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BBC GOOD FOOD SHOW Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands RETURNS TO THE NEC

ISSUE 378 JUNE 2017

BIRMINGHAM WHAT’S ON JUNE 2017 Birmingham ’

WhatFILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTSs I FOOD Onbirminghamwhatson.co.uk

inside:

Yourthe 16-pagelist week by week listings guide

SUMMER IN freeSOUTHSIDE outdoor events in the city PARTOF WHAT’S ON MEDIA GROUP

premierYOLANDA female saxophonistBROWN brings touring show to mac TWITTER@WHATSONBRUM BIRMINGHAMWHATSON.CO.UK

jewellery-makingGET CRAFTY! and beading workshops at the NEC Contents June Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:30 Page 1 Contents June Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 17:38 Page 2

June 2017

Contents

The Addams Family - join Morticia and Gomez at the ... feature on page 24

The Crucible Sommore Summer In Southside the list

Television favourites star in The Queen of urban US comedy FREE outdoor events to enjoy Your 16-page Arthur Miller’s chilling tale plays in the city’s Southside district week-by-week listings guide feature page 8 page 23 page 47 page 51 inside:

4. First Word 11. Food 15. Music 22. Comedy 28. Theatre 39. Film 43. Visual Arts 47. Events

@whatsonbrum fb.com/whatsonbirmingham @whatsonbirmingham Birmingham What’s On Magazine Birmingham What’s On Magazine Birmingham What’s On Magazine

Managing Director: Davina Evans [email protected] 01743 281708 ’ Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse [email protected] 01743 281703 Chris Horton [email protected] 01743 281704 WhatsOn Yvonne Kentfield [email protected] 01743 281706 Editorial: Lauren Foster [email protected] 01743 281707 MEDIA GROUP Sue Jones [email protected] 01743 281705 Brian O’Faolain [email protected] 01743 281701 Abi Whitehouse [email protected] 01743 281716 Ryan Humphreys [email protected] 01743 281722 Adrian Parker [email protected] 01743 281714 Rhian Atherton [email protected] 01743 281726 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Katherine Ewing, Lauren Cox Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry [email protected] 01743 281717 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine. We endorse the recycling of our magazine and would encourage you to pass it on to others to read when you have finished with it. All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. First Word Birmingham June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:44 Page 1

Entertainment news from around the region

Birmingham braced for new lunar landing A new internationally touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram is visiting Birmingham’s Thinktank next month. Museum Of The Moon measures seven me- tres in diameter and features detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface, with each cen- timetre representing 5km on the surface of the actual moon. The installation highlights ongoing lunar ex- ploration and research and is accompanied by a surround-sound composition created by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award-winning com- poser Dan Jones. During its tour, the Moon is being presented in different ways, both in- doors and outdoors, ensuring that each new audience around the world will experience the artwork in a different way. The installation visits Thinktank from 21 July to 20 August.

Open surgery at the BBC to a variety of leisure and entertainment Golly Miss Molly. businesses - including award-winning com- Commenting on the new show, Natalie said: Fans of Birmingham-produced daytime TV edy venue the Glee Club. “To be able to work with these two incredible show Doctors can this month take a behind- Commenting on the sponsorship announce- Strictly champions and choreograph routines the-scenes look at the popular series. ment, a spokesperson for the Birmingham with them to the sounds of music’s greatest The opportunity comes on 7 June, when the Comedy Festival said: “We’re delighted to be decade is something that I’m very excited to BBC Drama Village opens its doors to the working with The Arcadian again this year. be working on. Together we’ll dance through general public for the first ever time. We’re looking forward to seeing some great some of the most fantastic songs ever cre- Commenting on the news, Will Trotter, Head shows at the Glee Club during the festival, in- ated.” of Daytime Drama at the BBC Drama Village, cluding our official opening-night launch The show visits Birmingham’s Symphony said: “Fans will be treated to a guided tour by event, the Breaking Talent Award.” Hall on Tuesday 19 September. the staff, where they will get first-hand The festival runs from Friday 6 to Sunday 15 knowledge about the sets, locations and October and will see a host of established what our award-winning writers have in store and fast-rising comedy acts taking to stages for some of BBC One’s favourite characters.” Roy G Hemmings Drifting across the city. into Birmingham Drifters star Roy G Hemmings brings his lat- Strictly stars dance their est stage show to the Midlands next month. way back to the 1950s The Sounds Of Philadelphia And Motown in- cludes songs by The Temptations, Four Tops, Strictly Come Danc- The Supremes, The Ojays, Stevie Wonder and ing’s Natalie Lowe, (of course) The Drifters. Louis Smith and Jay Roy appears at the Birmingham Repertory McGuiness are set to Theatre on 14 July. For more information, swing, bop, jitterbug visit birmingham-rep.co.uk. and lindy hop their way back to the 1950s Brum’s Arcadian havin’ a this autumn, when laugh for the sixth time they bring a brand new show to the Midlands. A Birmingham entertainment centre has Rip It Up will see the agreed to sponsor the city’s annual comedy talented trio performing dance routines to a festival for the sixth consecutive year. host of era-defining pop and rock’n’roll hits, The Arcadian is situated in Birmingham’s including Why Do Fools Fall In Love, La Chinatown and theatre district, and is home Bamba, Oh Carol, Heartbreak Hotel and Good 4 whatsonlive.co.uk First Word Birmingham June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:44 Page 2

First Word

Let’s get ready to improv... The Birmingham Improv Festival makes a welcome return to the city in the autumn. Running from 23 to 29 October, the event will feature improvised plays, musicals, sketches and workshops. Commenting on the news, festival organiser Jon Trevor said: “We were very proud to have brought the festival to Birming- ham for the very first time last year. It was so well received by au- diences that we’ve been able to re- turn with the 2017 festival doubling in length to six days. “We’re going to be ‘bigger, better, Brummier’, with more variety, more local talent and more impro- vised art forms, including jazz, contact improvisation and freestyle rap.” Birmingham Improv Festival 2017 will take place at the Blue Orange Theatre in the city’s historic Jew- ellery Quarter. U.Dance festival performances at Birmingham theatre Birmingham Hippodrome next month hosts three performances which are being presented as part of the 2017 U.Dance festival. The national event is designed to showcase the talents of young dancers from across the UK. Each Brum street artist performance will feature a different programme of youth dance companies and present a range of Temper returns for styles, including hip-hop, contemporary and South Asian dance. The performances take place at the The Big Sleuth Hippodrome from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 July. Celebrated Birmingham artist Temper is to design a charity bear for the city’s Big Sleuth public art trail this summer. Range Rover The trail is the highly anticipated celebrated in More Briggs festive magic at mac sequel to The Big Hoot, which at- The company which last tracted more than 800,000 visitors Brum Christmas presented Ray- in 2015 and raised over £625,000 Bookings are now being mond Briggs’ The Bear at for Birmingham Children’s Hospi- taken for a Solihull exhibi- tal Charity. macBirmingham is re- tion celebrating the history turning to the venue this This summer’s Big Sleuth is being of the Range Rover. backed by Retail BID Birmingham, festive season to perform Featuring previously unseen the Business Improvement District another story by the same materials and artefacts, for the city centre retail area. author. The organisation is sponsoring Range Rover: The 4x4 That Pins & Needles, in associ- two of the trail’s bears, one of Changed The World is lo- ation with the Lyric Ham- which will be designed by Temper. cated at Land Rover Experi- mersmith, will present The artist also contributed to- ence Solihull and their version of Briggs’ Father Christmas, a show for children wards The Big Hoot in 2015. His documents five decades in aged three and older which brings together live music, songs sculpture, Re-Tail owl - also spon- the history of the stylishly and playful puppetry. The production runs from 30 Novem- sored by Retail BID - produced the designed all-terrain vehicle. ber to 30 December. highest bid at the Big Hoot auc- The exhibition also offers And macBirmingham is also hosting a second show for early- tion, selling for £18,000. visitors the chance to check The Big Sleuth public art trail will years children to enjoy in the run-up to Christmas. Presented out the new avant-garde by Little Angel Theatre, Me (15 to 30 November) is a touching launch on Monday 10 July. Range Rover Velar. For more For more information, visit the- tale about a parent and their love for their child. It’s adapted information, visit bigsleuth.co.uk from the story by much-loved children’s author Emma Dodd. solihull.landroverexperi- For more information, visit macbirmingham.co.uk ence.co.uk

whatsonlive.co.uk 5 First Word Birmingham June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:44 Page 3

First Word

Jewellery Quarter Festival Seriously saxy... looking to sparkle again An award-winning Birming- ham-based female musician Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter Festival is re- will next month demon- turning for a third year next month. strate that the saxophone Organised by the Jewellery Quarter Business Im- isn’t an instrument used provement District (JQBID) and supported by only by men, or simply in local businesses, the festival takes place from 28 order to play jazz music. to 30 July. Millicent Stephenson re- Among its attractions are a range of free family turns for a fourth year with activities, entertainment including local come- her Not Just Jazz show, an dian Barbara Nice, live music, free heritage event designed to showcase tours and a selection of street food and drink. original compositions from For further information, visit her CDs alongside a selec- jewelleryquarter.net/JQ-Festival tion of iconic reggae, gospel and soul covers. Millicent presents her show Summer cinema at the , Spiritual contemplation informs new art Birmingham, on Friday 28 outdoors at top exhibition at Sutton Coldfield gallery July. Tickets are available on Midlands venues 0121 643 5858 or via milli- A celebrated artist living in Birming- centstephenson.com Midlands film fans are this ham is next month exhibiting his work summer being given the at Sutton Coldfield’s Artifex Gallery. chance to indulge their love Dr Mohsen Keiany draws heavily on Cyclists get set of the movies in the great his Iranian heritage to create paint- for city centre outdoors, courtesy of both a ings characterised by their complex touring film festival and a narrative compositions, jewel-like Skyride home-grown one. colours and spiritual content. Midlands cyclists get the The touring event stops off “I am very much into multi-cultural- chance to take over Birming- at Coventry Cathedral, The ism,” explains Mohsen. “I’m always interested in researching different ham’s streets this month. Arena in Birmingham, cultures and traditions, particularly art and architecture. My art work is The Birmingham Skyride Rugby School Quad and deeply influenced by my Persian background. Historical, religious and event takes place on Sunday Birmingham Botanical Gar- cultural themes feature strongly, especially the influence of Sufi spiritu- 11 June, with organisers dens, screening a selection ality and Persian philosophy. I believe my art can contribute not just to inviting bike-riding individ- of films including Ghost- the aesthetic pleasure that people will experience but also enhance their uals and families to join busters, Grease, La La Land understanding of diverse art traditions and the human condition. My them for ‘a ride to remem- and Star Wars: Rogue One. work covers a range that encapsulates spiritual contemplation, humans ber, with loads of free enter- For more information about and the natural world, and human mythical suffering.” tainment, plenty to see and which films are showing Mohsen’s exhibition, Unknown Legacy, opens at the Artifex Gallery on have a go at, and a totally where - and when - visit Saturday 1 July and shows throughout the month. new way of experiencing the cultscreens.co.uk city”. Later in the summer, the The first 500 people to arrive Birmingham-located Mock- at the event and show proof ingbird Cinema & Kitchen - Desi Moves... of registration can claim a in partnership with sister A Birmingham-based youth pro- free slice of cake. All regis- company Factory Cinema gramme celebrating streetwise South trants will be entered into a Co - will present a series of Asian sounds and styles is making a prize draw to win one of five outdoor screenings at the return to the city this summer. Desi £100 Love Velo vouchers. in the city’s Moves features no-cost, music-based For more information, visit Digbeth district. creative training programmes, pop-up letsride.co.uk/city- Taking place across the Au- events, exhibitions, and hands-on cre- ride/birmingham gust bank holiday weekend ative making opportunities, all de- (the 25th to the 27th), the signed to explore the way in which ‘South Asian culture meets the event will include screen- street’. ings of The Rocky Horror Desi Moves’ events programme this month includes free music work- Picture Show, Tim Burton’s shops at the Lighthouse in Aston and Concorde in Sparkbrook, with Batman and Back To The young musicians then being given the chance to perform at the Birming- Future. ham Mela in Victoria Park on Saturday 1 & Sunday 2 July

6 whatsonlive.co.uk Pizza Birmingham.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:34 Page 2

by Lauren Cox pizza perfection Whether you think putting pineapple on a pizza is man’s greatest invention or a crime against humanity, you’re bound to find a delicious pizza to tickle your tastebuds in the city centre. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of Birmingham’s best pizzerias so that you can grab ‘a pizza the action’ and a slice of Italian culture - all puns intended.

The Stable Spectacular Goat Baked In Brick Enjoy a Birmingham-themed pizza at this Using real wood-fired ovens, these street- Another favourite of the Birmingham well-loved restaurant, which blends a food maestros serve up great-tasting pizzas street food scene is the 2016 Best Of The casual dining experience with a hipster from their vintage 1950s caravan. Indulge Best British Street Food winner, Baked In vibe. Try the Perry Barr Baa with lamb, in a five-cheese mac’n’cheese pizza with Brick. Founder and head chef Lee mint, goat’s cheese and sweet potato; the maple-roasted bacon, or treat yourself to a Deranges and his team bake Neapolitan- Bantam with chicken, peppers Lord Ponsonby with ham, asparagus style pizzas in a wood-fired oven on the and mushrooms; or the James Brindley cooked in butter and truffle oil and a runny back of a real Mini car - it’s important to with herb-roasted potato, blue cheese and egg, finished with hollandaise sauce and stand out from the crowd, right? With spinach. As well as monthly specials, The fresh rocket. Spectacular Goat have been a regular residence at Digbeth Dining Club Stable also offers fantastic dairy-free firm favourite at Digbeth Dining Club for and pop-ups at one of our favourite mozzarella options for vegans, handmade years - be sure to follow them on social independent coffee shops, Quarter House, to order from scratch. Founder and media to stay up to date with forthcoming make sure to keep an eye on the Executive Chef Andy Briggs even took events. company’s social media pages to find out home the award for Best Technical Pizza in You’re most likely to find them at DDC, where you can catch them next. the 2016 National Pizza awards. If that Spotlight, Lower Trinity St, Birmingham You’re most likely to find them at DDC, doesn’t tempt you, we don’t know what B9 4AG Spotlight, Lower Trinity St, will. Birmingham B9 4AG 115 John Bright St, Birmingham B1 1BE

La Vera Otto La Galleria This unassuming pizzeria is the definition of This relatively new and independent If traditional pizza is what you’re after, then a hidden gem. Tucked away in Martineau pizzeria, owned by the founder of adjacent look no further. At this authentic, family-run Place, La Vera offers real and affordable deli Eight Foot Grocer, serves great-quality Italian restaurant in the heart of Italian pizzas cooked at a seriously high pizzas in an intimate and relaxed setting. The Birmingham, hand-made pizzas are baked in speed in a huge wood-fired oven. Choose homemade dough is topped with the best a traditional wood-fired oven imported from from a wide range of classic pizzas - from the ingredients sourced from both Britain and Modena, Italy’s culinary capital. Each pizza Napoletana, with olives and anchovies, to Italy - including nduja (a spicy Italian pork is freshly prepared to order at the open pizza the controversial Hawaii, with pineapple and salumi) and frijarielli (a green leafy bar and features top-quality ingredients. chicken. There’s even a Nutella and banana vegetable) - and blasted in the wood-fired Choose from a wide range of classics, calzone on the menu - you can’t go wrong oven at 500 degrees for just 90 seconds, including a Margherita, Calzone, Caprino with that. creating the perfect pizza. with goat’s cheese and Rustica with salami. 16 , Birmingham B2 4UB 14 Caroline St, Jewellery Quarter, 5A Ethel St, Birmingham B2 4GB Birmingham B3 1TR

whatsonlive.co.uk 7 The Crucible DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:35 Page 1

FEATURE

The Crucible

Call The Midwife star Victoria Yeates discusses her role and the powerful political warnings in Arthur Miller’s seminal play

Collective outrage, corrupt officials, a the embittered teenage lover of her rather than coming to a reasoned, rational flagrant disregard for truth, scapegoating, adulterous husband. She told us more about judgement. At a time when the play seems silencing, extremism, seething resentments, the show ahead of its arrival at such a rich resource for contemporary social bitter division and a rising tide of tyrannical Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre this commentary, Rintoul has also lamented its populism: Arthur Miller once said that the month. recent removal from the secondary school popularity of his most famous play at a curriculum as part of Michael Gove’s new “I think it’s really interesting to look at how given time in any country was indicative of policy of focusing on British rather than hysteria catches,” says Yeates. “And just that nation’s own political state. American texts. look at all the things that Trump has said Originally written as a veiled attack on the that are completely untrue, yet people are “I suppose you could say that maybe it is McCarthyite ‘witch hunts’ of the 1940s and buying it - ‘alternative facts’, as they’re time for a change,” says Yeates, “but I do feel ’50s, The Crucible famously uses the sham calling it now. (The Crucible) is such an it’s a shame that it’s been taken off the trials of men and women accused of important text for people to read now, syllabus now, when it’s so relevant again. It’s witchcraft in late 17th century Salem as a because history is cyclical and we seem to an incredible and very layered play that can metaphor for the anti-Communist hysteria have reached that point again.” be applied to all kinds of situations, so it’s of Miller’s own time. But more than 60 years definitely one of those texts you can keep Describing The Crucible as “the ultimate after the play was first performed, it seems doing.” post-truth play” in an article for The to have a lot to say about the world we live Guardian, director Douglas Rintoul Rintoul’s big idea for his production hinges in now. highlights the way in which the story sees on a heightened, self-conscious theatricality, Fresh from her role as Sister Winifred in BBC unfounded claims and accusations given with Miller’s scripted directions projected One’s Call The Midwife, Victoria Yeates stars equal weight to real evidence by blinkered onto the set, and performers sitting around in a new touring production of the play as authorities determined to make the so- the stage to observe the action - perhaps Elizabeth Proctor, a woman denounced by called ‘facts’ fit a pre-existing worldview drawing attention to the idea of politics as a

8 whatsonlive.co.uk The Crucible DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:35 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid

kind of performance, particularly relevant in “Progress is not an illusion; it happens, but the interesting things about doing this play. today’s personality-driven, mass media- it is slow and invariably disappointing.” But It definitely gives your acting muscles a filtered culture. for now, at least, this production of The workout!” Crucible can contribute towards important “It’s a kind of Brechtian approach which is Yeates might always have seen The Crucible conversations, and Yeates hopes that people supposed to remind you that you’re as “one of the best plays of the 20th will leave the theatre “having interesting watching a play. It’s all about prompting century”, but having now immersed herself discussions afterwards”. Meanwhile, for her political conversations. We’re also in the story from the point of view of the own part, it’s certainly been a fascinating presenting it in a very fast-paced way that pregnant wife he leaves behind, how does character and story to explore. doesn’t let up, so you’re sort of pulled into she feel about John Proctor’s ultimate the world of it, and you don’t really have “I’ve always wanted to play Elizabeth refusal to sign the false confession that time to think until the end. People who’ve Proctor. She’s a woman of many layers and might have saved his life? Is he right to come to see it have been on the edge of their contradictions, and I think it’s always insist on absolute honesty? Or is life, as seats the whole way through, and the interesting when the domestic arc of a play Reverend Hale insists, a gift worth more reason the director’s done that is because he is just as important as the wider political than any principle? really wanted people to feel the kind of aspect. Right from the beginning, her “Ooh, that’s hard, because it’s such a bemused astonishment that means you relationship with John (her husband) is very different time, isn’t it? I do think there’s an don’t act until it’s too late.” complex, and she goes on an incredible extent to which we’ve forgotten about the journey towards forgiveness, which makes it This inertia on behalf of those who see importance of integrity in our society, and a great part to develop as an actor.” through the lies and extremism is a his decision to surrender his life and keep perennial problem, perhaps more so today Fully inhabiting a world of mob rule, moral his integrity seems like an incredible choice. than ever before. In an increasingly panic, false testimony and mass-murder But then he is leaving his children behind! fragmented society, where the emphasis is sanctioned by the state makes for a real “I guess it raises an important question always on the individual rather than on emotional workout - not to mention the about where we draw the line, because I community and collective endeavour, it’s more personal side of the story that sees think we’re in a position now where that easy to see how a sense of powerlessness Elizabeth grappling with motherhood, line in the sand is becoming more and more and disillusionment has been able to set in. pregnancy and her husband’s infidelity. One blurred, and we allow things to spiral out of Nevertheless, Yeates remains confident that might imagine that Yeates’ work on the control because we just think that’s how change will eventually come. famously tear-jerking Call The Midwife things are. So it’s interesting to think about would have left her well-equipped for the “I feel optimistic. I think the more that it’s where our integrity is in terms of the play’s intensity, but the differences between discussed, the more people will start to act. decisions we make and being able to say no acting for stage and screen can be profound. And actually, loads of young people, the 16 to people and fight for what we deserve.” to 25-year-olds, are really switched on, “It requires a lot of stamina. When you’re Googling and fact-checking things, so I do filming, you might just cry for a few hours think there’s a progression already and then that’s it, but when you do a play, happening.” you have to get to that point every single The Crucible shows at Birmingham’s day, sometimes twice a day, which is very New Alexandra Theatre from To use the wise words of George Orwell, difficult and tiring. But I think that’s one of Monday 5 to Saturday 10 June.

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Food

Fishy goings-on... Seafood eatery to open branch in Birmingham A new seafood eatery which has recently been launched in Cardiff has announced plans to open a branch in Birmingham. Seafood Shack features a Victorian-style fish & chip bar and takeaway, a 150-capacity ‘shanty tavern’, a Champagne and oyster bar, a roof garden and a 200- seater restaurant. Its menu includes lobster, dressed crab, jumbo crab claws, prawn tails, langoustine, cray- fish, scallops and deep-fried calamari. The opening date for the Birmingham branch is yet to be announced by Seafood Shack’s owners.

were driving so didn’t get the well clear if spice isn’t your chance to sample such delights. thing! To start, we shared the Weeping Siamais also offers an extensive Tiger Sizzling Steak - sizzler char- tapas menu. Diners can either grilled sirloin steak, marinated pay £3.50 per dish or choose any in herbs and ground pepper, three for £10. served with a spicy chilli sauce - Although not typical Thai dishes, and the soft shell crab in salt and the chocolate ghirlanda and the chilli. salted caramel were our choices The steak marinade was stun- for dessert. The chocolate dish ning, bursting with flavour, the comprised a coronet of dark meat nicely cooked - although chocolate filled with crunchy my partner did have a couple of meringue, a rich chocolate ice chewy pieces, which was unfor- cream and a white chocolate tunate. The soft shell crab was sauce. The salted caramel dish tasty. However, for its £10 price came in the form of a smooth, tag, a slightly larger portion creamy pudding on a thin vanilla would’ve been appreciated. sponge with sticky caramel For our main courses, we shared sauce, crumbled shortbread bis- REVIEW: Siamais the stir-fried duck in tamarind cuit and sea salt. Both dishes sauce and stir-fried mixed were as naughty as they sound New city centre restaurant offers tasty seafood in chilli paste. Both and perfectly rounded off our Thai cuisine with a modern twist dishes came with a portion of Siamais experience. jasmin rice, but we chose to If you’re a fan of Thai cuisine, Situated in , one of when you’re visiting somewhere swap these for spicy vegetable then Siamais is the place for you. Birmingham’s most desirable lo- for the first time. rice and spicy chicken rice. Tasty food, fantastic service and stylish surroundings make for a cations, Siamais (pronounced The Siamais cocktail menu is by The duck was probably the high- thoroughly enjoyable evening. Siam-aze) opened its doors in far the most extensive I’ve seen light of my evening. The meat Lauren Foster April following a full refurbish- and features classics such as was cooked beautifully, the ment. Pina Colada, Mai Tai and Cosmo- tamarind sauce a perfect accom- Previously home to Thai Edge, politan alongside numerous deli- paniment. Food: nnnnn this new eatery offers modern cious-sounding concoctions The seafood dish comprised Service: nnnnn Thai cuisine with a twist. created by the restaurant. The prawns, squid, mussels and scal- Ambience: nnnnn Overall value On arrival, we were politely Bang Pai Falls (over-proof rum lops sautéed in a hot chilli paste nnnnn OVERALL greeted and shown to our table. with cherry and vanilla notes with spring onion, red and green nnnnn and cranberry juice) and the Sin- peppers, red chilli and sweet The stylish, Thai-inspired décor Siamais allied to the low lighting and re- gapore Fling (gin with pineapple basil. The flavours were lovely, 6 Brindleyplace laxed atmosphere created a fan- favours, cherry and a caviar ball worked well together, and the 7 Oozells Street tastic first impression. The containing lychee and guava dish showcased just the right Birmingham restaurant was packed out too, burst) both sounded particularly amount of spice. The spicy rice is B1 2HS which is always a great sign appetising. Unfortunately we a tad on the hot side, so steer Tel: 0121 643 3993

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Food

New festival offers real Bake Off star Candice treat for coffee lovers at Foodies Festival Birmingham is hosting its very own cof- Great British Bake Off 2016 winner Can- fee festival at the start of next month. dice Brown is to appear at this month’s Taking place on Saturday 1 & Sunday 2 Birmingham Foodies Festival. July at Digbeth’s Custard Factory, the The former PE teacher will be joined by, event features 40 independent coffee among other top chefs, ‘burlesque shops and coffee culture experiences baker’ Charlotte White and chocolatier from the local area and beyond. Fiona Sciotti. Commenting on the festival, its organis- Other attractions at the three-day event ers said: “Grab a coffee, cake or lunch include a range of street food, an artisan and relax in our seating area while lis- producers market, a vintage tea tent, tening to local musicians. Unlimited Captain Morgan’s pirate ship, chilli and samples will be available from our part- bug-eating competitions, and live music ners, as well as plenty of things to buy on the Unsigned Music Awards Stage. on the day.” The event this year has a special focus For more information, visit birming- on healthy living and ‘growing your hamcoffeefestival.com own’. The Birmingham Foodies Festival takes place in Cannon Hill Park from Fri- Champagne tasting at day 23 to Sunday 25 June. the Hippodrome theatre Birmingham Hippodrome is this month hosting ‘an elegant evening of Cham- pagne tasting’ with one of the world’s most distinguished Champagne houses, the family-owned Laurent-Per- rier. The evening provides participants with the chance to perfect their tasting skills and learn about the famous 200-year- old family brand. The Hippodrome's head chef has cre- ated a lavish five-course menu to com- plement the Champagnes. The Laurent-Perrier Champagne Tast- ing Dinner takes place on Monday 12 June. Tickets cost £95 per person and can be purchased from birming- hamhippodrome.com Birmingham chef at Ragley food festival Michelin-starred chef Brad Carter - chef-patron of Birmingham restaurant Top Birmingham restaurant offers ‘golden ticket’ prize Carters Of Moseley - will this month join Masterchef winner Jane Devonshire Michelin-starred Birmingham restaurant Pur- golden tickets, all you have to do is send a at Ragley Hall Father’s Day Food Festi- nell’s is next month celebrating its 10th birth- stamped addressed envelope to: Mr Purnell’s val Weekend (Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 day with a special anniversary menu - and you Golden Ticket Prize Draw, Purnell’s Restaurant, June). and a dining partner could be there to enjoy the 55 Cornwall Street, Birmingham, B3 2DH. As well as cookery demonstrations by occasion, courtesy of a golden ticket prize draw. The closing date for entries is Thursday 15 June Brad, Jane and other celebrity chefs, Purnell’s chef and owner, Glynn Purnell, is (at 5pm). The 15 winners will receive their the event also features more than 40 promising to give 15 lucky winners and their golden tickets the week beginning Monday 19 food and drink stalls, free talks, tast- guests ‘the evening of a lifetime’ on Friday 7 June. ings and plenty of activities to keep July, when the restaurant hosts an exclusive For more information about Purnell's, visit younger visitors entertained. Champagne reception and 10-course menu. purnellsrestaurant.com To be in with a chance of winning one of only 15 whatsonlive.co.uk 13 Candice DPS.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2017 08:54 Page 1

FEATURE Candice DPS.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2017 08:54 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid

Book Deals & Delicious Bakes Bake Off’s Candice Brown is launching a new cook book - and turning up at two of the Midlands’ most mouthwatering food festivals!

“No-nonsense”, “easy to make” bakes are Those hoping to drop in on one of her at the show. Breads, olives, cakes, local on the menu for Great British Bake Off 2016 demos should expect an emphasis on wines, little jars of things - I love markets winner Candice Brown as she prepares to simple, traditional dishes, nostalgic flavours and food shows and finding gorgeous things launch her brand new cook book, Comfort: and accessible family fare, in line with the to eat and taste and buy!” Delicious Bakes And Family Treats, on recipes featured in her forthcoming book - And with exciting programmes lined up for Thursday 13 July. including toffee apple crumble, cornflake both festivals, who could blame her? Expect tart, triple layer berry cake, Christmas cake, But if you can’t wait that long to get stuck Michelin-starred chefs and local perfect roast chicken, black pudding into her recipes, then late this month, the restauranteurs, extensive markets with an sausage rolls, tattie scones, pork and apple brilliant baker will be offering a tantalising amazing range of traders, wine, gin and pasties and homemade pork scratchings. taste of what to expect at the hotly craft beer tasting and even edible science anticipated Foodies Festival in “I love baking and cooking really homely, experiments for the kids. Those looking to Birmingham’s Cannon Hill Park, followed old-fashioned, comforting food and giving it pick up some top tips for their own cooking by an appearance at Shropshire’s Newport my own spin. I’m all about big flavours, will find them in abundance - but for Show in early July. slices and invoking memories and aspiring bakers like she once was, Brown nostalgia.” has this advice to offer; “I didn’t even think I would get on Bake Off, or then past week one, week two, and so Little wonder, then, that fellow chefs who “I don’t feel any more experienced than on,” she says of her bemusement at acing she admires include the late Keith Floyd and anyone else but my advice is to always just the challenges and wowing judges and Tom Kerridge, particularly the latter’s go for it, enjoy what you do, smile and, if it audiences alike on the hit BBC show. “Never “hearty, homely pub grub” and “infectious” goes wrong, don’t panic - just turn it into in a million years (did I think I would win)- I love for what he does. something else and say it was meant to look still don’t quite believe it!” like that or throw it away and don’t tell Brown’s own passion for cooking shines anyone. And hard work pays off! It’s so Since making the jump and giving up the through for all to see, and however busy she important to do something you love and feel day job to pursue her dream career, the becomes, she always tries to make time to good about it. Never feel you can’t do it or former teacher has had more than just a do a bit of baking just for her own benefit. allow anything to stand in your way. book to keep her busy. As well as honing her “I bake whenever I have a spare hour! I just cooking skills and earning money making “Baking shouldn’t be scary or difficult, and I love it and am always thinking about what I food, she’s also been contending with a think my book will show this. It’s been my could do or what ingredients I could use. I calendar chock-full of high-profile events. absolute pleasure testing and writing can’t go too long without creating a flour recipes that I encourage you to try, change “Every opportunity is a blessing - I loved tornado in the kitchen.” and make your own.” every second of the process and I’m loving On the other hand, if she was heading to an every second now! I’ve been to some event like Foodies Festival or Newport as a amazing events - Pride Of Britain, NTAs, visitor, she’d avoid the urge to whip up Sports Personality - and met some something in advance, preferring instead to incredible people - Fearne Cotton, Emma Candice Brown is at Birmingham’s Food- sample some mouthwatering morsels fresh and Geri from the Spice Girls, Sir Chris Hoy ies Festival in Cannon Hill Park on Sun- from the festival market. and Barbara Windsor.” day 25 June and at the Newport Show, Chetwynd Deer Park, on Saturday 8 July. “My basket would be empty so that I could fill it with all sorts of wonderful things I find GIGS June BIRMINGHAM - COMPLETE.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:31 Page 1 GIGS June BIRMINGHAM - COMPLETE.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:31 Page 2

Gigs

Elton John Genting Arena, Birmingham, Wed 7 June A much-cherished national treasure, Sir Elton is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and doesn’t take himself too seriously. The top chum of superstar celebrities the world over, he’s earned his stripes as a much-re- spected musician by reason of spending over four decades in the upper echelons of a noto- riously unforgiving business. He this month returns to Birmingham for the 36th time, performing songs from his most re- cent album, Wonderful Crazy Nights, and hits from his stellar career.

Kraftwerk 3D erised rhythms to create a soundtrack for the digital age. A major international influ- Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Tues 13 June ence across a range of genres, including Founded in 1970 by Ralf Hütter and Florian electro, hip-hop, techno, ambient and syn- Schneider, Kraftwerk have used innovative thpop, their 3D concerts are described as techniques, synthetic voices and comput- ‘gesamtkunstwerk’ - a total work of art.

YolanDa Brown Flogging Molly Ritchie Blackmore’s mac, Birmingham, Fri 23 June O2 Institute, Birmingham, Wed 28 June Rainbow Regarded as the premier female saxophonist Flogging Molly’s latest album, Life Is Good, Genting Arena, Birmingham, Wed 28 June in the UK, YolanDa’s debut album - April is their first release in six years. Available Showers, May Flowers - reached number one Following the triumphant and sold-out from the second of the month, it promises to on the iTunes and Amazon Jazz Charts. show at the Genting in June last year, feature the blend of raucous punk-rock com- As well as performing across the world in her Ritchie Blackmore takes to the stage once bined with traditional Irish music for which own right, YolanDa has also toured in sup- again to celebrate the era-defining music of the band have become best known. port of The Temptations and Errol Brown, col- Rainbow and Deep Purple. Fronted by Dave King, the seven-piece bring laborated with artists including Julian Marley With a background in classical and R’n’B, their adrenaline-fuelled live show to Birm- and Soweto Kinch, and appeared as part of Blackmore was a driving force behind Deep ingham as part of a UK tour. the Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. Purple’s early successes. He left the group in She visits mac with her Love Politics War 1973 to form Rainbow, who went on to sell in touring show. Robbie Williams excess of 28 million albums. Ricoh Arena, Coventry, Tues 13 June With 10 of his 11 studio albums reaching the Official Album Chart’s top spot and an entry in the Guinness Book Of World Records for selling over one-and-a-half million tour tick- ets in a single day, Midlands-born Robbie needs no introduction. Whether with Take That or as a solo artist, Williams is a power- house performer whose popularity has en- dured despite the passing of time. This month sees the still-shining star bring his highly anticipated stadium tour, The Heavy Entertainment Show, to the Mid- lands. whatsonlive.co.uk 15 Classical June NEW.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:28 Page 1

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Classical

Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra The Bramall, Birmingham, Sun 18 June Michael Lloyd (pictured below) conducts the latest concert in Birmingham Philhar- monic Orchestra’s 2017 programme. One of the Midlands’ best known and most admired non-professional orches- tras, the Birmingham Phil here presents Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, created by the composer as a birthday (and Christmas) present to his wife. The programme also features Bruckner’s last completed symphony, a contempla- Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment tive, dreamy and ultimately triumphant piece which is often associated with the Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 30 June apocalypse. American-born French conductor William Christie here teams up with the Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment (OAE) as they perform a repertoire entitled Bach And Beyond. Alongside performances of two of Bach’s glorious orchestral suites, the concert also fea- tures music by Campra (Suite, Les Fêtes Vénitiennes), Fischer (Le Journal du Printemps Op 1 No7) and Rameau (Suite, Indes Galantes).

Birmingham Bach Choir Birmingham Festival Pershore Abbey, Worcestershire, Sat 17 Choral Society: Carmina June; Birmingham Cathedral, Sat 24 June The Bramall, Birmingham University, One of the city's oldest and most distin- Sat 17 June guished musical groups here gets its collec- tive teeth into the world of all things French, from early 16th century music Ex Cathedra: Summer through to modern compositions. Paul Spicer conducts, with Martyn Rawles Music By Candlelight playing the organ, in a concert that show- Birmingham Cathedral, Tues 20 June cases the soul-searching music of the little- Jeffrey Skidmore once again picks up the known Dominique Phinot, a composer who baton to conduct Birmingham’s highly was executed for ‘homosexual practices’ in rated early music ensemble. 1556. Presented by candlelight as dusk falls, the Works by Poulenc, Duruflé and Pierre Vil- concert brings together music and read- lette also feature, as does Faure’s peerless ings inspired both by birdsong and the Requiem, a piece about which the composer summer season itself. himself commented: “It has been said that The evening’s programme includes a new my Requiem does not express the fear of work by Alec Roth which has been com- death, and someone has called it a lullaby missioned by Ex Cathedra. of death. But it is thus that I see death: as a happy deliverance, an aspiration towards happiness above, rather than as a painful The emotionally charged choral music of experience.” Carl Orff's Carmina Burana is instantly recognisable the world over, having fea- tured in an untold number of movie soundtracks and television commercials. The hugely popular work is here pre- sented by Birmingham Festival Choral So- ciety in collaboration with Liverpool Welsh Choral. The concert’s programme is completed by Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms.

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Festivals

The Acoustic Festival Of Britain Asparafest Uttoxeter Racecourse, Staffs, Fri 2 - Sun 4 June Ashdown Farm, Badsey, Evesham, Standing out from the crowd of ever-louder tions, seated food tents and kids' play areas, Fri 2 - Sun 4 June electronic festivals, The Acoustic Festival Of it's the perfect way to spend a lazy weekend Celebrating the Vale of Evesham’s long- Britain marks a welcome return to the basics with the family. standing reputation for asparagus crops, of good-quality music. Stripped back, un- Line-up includes: Fairport Convention this not-for-profit food and music festival plugged performances are the focus of this (pictured below), Wishbone Ash, Nell Bry- combines renowned guests with community relaxed, friendly event. Beyond that, it's den, Hoosiers, Nick Harper, Seize The Day, spirit. Local and national music acts per- open to music of all genres. With five-star- Boy on a Dolphin, TV Smith, Ed Tudor Pole form alongside demos from award-winning rated camping infrastructure, glamping op- and The Bar-Steward Sons Of Val Doonican. chefs, country crafts, vintage vehicles and family fun - including a specialist teen tent and appearances by children’s TV stars. Look out for opportunities to taste aspara- gus-themed food and drink, too. More competitively minded visitors can take part in the traditional asparagus-eating con- test. Line-up includes: Dr Feelgood, 3 Daft Mon- keys, The Bar-Steward Sons Of Val Dooni- can, CBeebies’ Mr Bloom and Katy Ashworth (I Can Cook!), Felice Tocchini (Fusion Brasserie), Tom Court (Sticky Fig Catering) and Tom Sausage

Lichfield Blues & Jazz Supersonic Festival El Dorado Festival Lichfield Guildhall & other city centre venues, Custard Factory, Birmingham, Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire, Fri 2 - Sat 4 June Fri 16 - Sun 18 June Fri 30 June - Mon 3 July Having launched in 2015, this growing festi- The centuries-long search for the magical val is fast establishing itself as a firm fixture land of El Dorado ends here. in Lichfield’s cultural calendar. Taking place Nestled in the beautiful hills of Hereford- across multiple city centre venues, the long shire, this intimate, boutique festival is the weekend celebrates the best in local jazz brainchild of urban clubbing innovators and blues talent, as well as showcasing the Cirque du Soul, best known for creating best in quality musicianship from further weird and wacky wonderlands packed with afield. Concerts can be booked individually, musical variety. with an assortment of hands-on workshops From freak shows and fire breathers to a and lively street bands to enjoy alongside floating Treasure Island stage, expect the the main acts. unexpected in this exotic paradise, specially Line-up includes: Remi Harris Trio, Sticky After taking a year off in 2016, the UK’s pre- designed for playful, open-minded party- Wicket & his String Orchestra (pictured mier experimental arts and music festival is goers. below), Masai Blues, Emma Johnson Boogie back with a bang. Line-up includes: Artful Dodger (pictured Woogie Quartet, Callum Roxburgh Swing Or- Featuring a thrilling line-up of some of the below), Groove Armada, Jax Jones, Hot 8 chestra, Chris Gumbley & Anything Goes, most exciting, original and irreverent artists Brass Band, The Sugarhill Gang, Wolf & Chi, Baxter - Dunnett Big Band and Blast Off from Birmingham, Britain and beyond, the AJ Tracey, Dusky, Zak Abel, SG Lewis, Bon- multidisciplinary Supersonic is guaranteed dax, Shy FX, Solardo and Channel One to stimulate the senses and engage curiosity with a mix of music, film, discussions, hands-on workshops and exhibitions. Intelligent, unique and often unpredictable, it’s an absolute must for the adventurous festival-goer. Line-up includes: Anna Von Hausswolff, Arbouretum, Colin Stetson, Jenny Hval, Laura Cannell, Melt Banana, Oxbow, Princess Nokia, Raime, Zu and Ex-Easter Is- land Head Ensemble

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INTERVIEW

SHAUN RYDER

20 whatsonlive.co.uk Festivals June (1).qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 16:25 Page 4

The Happy Mondays frontman talks about why his sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll days are now a thing of the past...

Happy Mondays are playing Nozstock this like Dean Martin, or if you were into mod peared, so we ended up having to spend the summer. What can fans expect from this music, you couldn’t like funk. One thing next week in Brazil. I think we went on with headline performance? about us was that we all appreciated different A-Ha, and they put us and Guns ’n’ Roses in a I think we’re doing something from all the al- types of music. We would listen to Velvet Un- hotel miles away from everyone else, so that bums. It’s a ‘greatest hits’ sort of thing. We’re derground then The Snakes. In terms of our was pretty freaky. not going out yet doing the entire Squirrel influence, we basically stole from everywhere And G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People and then tried to hide it. Do you have any regrets? album, but I’m sure sooner or later we will. I haven’t got many. I’ve got one or two. Obvi- Any particularly entertaining stories you’d ously spending 12 years in receivership was a The band’s groundbreaking album, Pill- like to share? bit of a bummer; I wouldn’t advise that to s’n’Thrills And Bellyaches, was released I can remember the 1960s better than I can anybody. That caused a lot of problems, as it back in 1990. Did you ever imagine that al- the 1990s, so that’ll tell you something. would when 100% of your income is getting most 30 years on, you’d still be headlining taken off you for 12 years. I should just have festivals? How does life on the road nowadays com- paid them the poxy 120 grand back in the You know, when I got into this business, I pare to, say, in the early 1990s? day, but I didn’t want to. That’s my biggest re- wanted to make a career out of it and do it for If someone had told me in the early ’90s how gret. When you write your own stuff and you a lifetime, so I didn’t imagine I’d be bailing easy it could be if you weren’t off your tits, I’d lose it all, you’ve got to stick it out - you can’t out and getting a normal, proper job - no one have told them to f*** off. It’s so easy now. I go bankrupt. It took a long time to get out of would’ve given me one anyway. I thought I’d mean, we’re all older, there’s no sex and that. Everything else, fine; I enjoyed getting be in it for life. drugs anymore, it’s just rock’n’roll. Even off my face when I was a kid - it’s what you though the workload is greater, it just fits in. I do innit. Paul Oakenfold produced Pills’n’Thrills go out and do what I want, when I want. It’s And Bellyaches. How did that come really easy. You were runner-up in the 10th series of about? I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!. Are Oakenfold at the time wasn’t a producer. He You’re very open now about being a fam- there any other reality TV shows that take was known for DJing in London and Ibiza. ily man. What’s the most important lesson your fancy? When I mentioned it to Tony and the man- you’ve passed on to your children? I did the other one where we went off in the ager at the time, Nathan, they started When I first had kids, I was pretty much a kid rainforest, although that was technically scratching their heads. The good thing was having kids. I was building a career, so I classed as a documentary. I get asked all the that we could’ve been making an album, an never saw them and had nothing to do with time to do that sort of stuff. In fact, another important album for the label, and if we’d them being brought up. Now I’m really lucky one has come in today, about me getting my asked for a not very well known DJ who’d because I get to do it again as an adult. My family involved in something. If the right one never produced before, they’d just have told girls love me; I’m just a great dad. I’m going comes around, I don’t mind - especially when us to f*** off. Factory Records thought about off in a minute to do the school run. I’ve got an album to promote. it and gave him a b-side. The DJs in the know flipped it over and started playing Oaken- How do you think your fanbase has grown Finally, what does the future hold for fold’s side. By the time we were ready to do over the years? Happy Mondays? the album, we’d convinced them that Oaken- The ages go from about 11 and 12 to about 70, Well, the thing about The Mondays is that fold was right for the job. and a lot of that is to do with mine and Bez’s there are six of us, and everyone has got a say dips into reality television. We both brought a in the band. It’s really difficult to organise. As Growing up in Manchester must’ve had a lot of new people in on it. You still get kids at Black Grape, it’s just me and Kermit, so when huge influence on your musical sound. uni discovering us, like I discovered Velvet we say, ‘Let’s go and make an album’, we can Can you tell us a bit about the Madchester Underground or whatever - although I didn’t just go and make one. When we’re with The scene? go to uni. Back in the day, there were a lot of Mondays, it’s really difficult. One lives in LA, Oh god! Do you know what, I don’t know kids at uni who were into us and who are one’s in Canada - they’re all doing their stuff whether it did have an influence on the now lawyers. We have a proper mixed bunch. and it’s more difficult. We’ll get a new album sound. The only sort of scene that’d been in together sooner or later, though. Manchester really, apart from Joy Division Were there any particularly memorable and The Smiths, was back in the ’60s with shows? The Hollies and stuff like that. The one thing Brazil was great! Years ago we did the Rock- Happy Mondays headline Nozstock that got us all together was that music was ing Rio thing - we took the rain with us; it ab- Festival, which takes place at Rowden really sort of gangy and clangy back in the solutely pissed it down. We should’ve been Paddocks, Bromyard, Herefordshire, late ’70s. If you liked punk rock, you couldn’t on with George Michael but our gear disap- from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 July

whatsonlive.co.uk 21 Comedy June 2017.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:47 Page 1

Jonny Awsum Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Wed 7 June If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, seems to have been the perspective taken by musi- cal comic Jonny Awsum. Having served as a barman at London’s Chuckle Club for eight long years, Jonny decided it was high time he put down the pint glasses and picked up the micro- phone himself. Now a regular on the UK comedy circuit, he’s been the warm-up artist for ITV1 lunchtime series Loose Women and also featured in Cravendale's hugely popular ‘cats with thumbs’ advertising campaign, viewed more than a million times on YouTube. Jonny’s joined for this latest Henry Tudor House Comedy Club night by Josh Pugh and Mark Olver.

Joel Dommett Stratford Artshouse, Stratford-upon-Avon, Fri 9 June “I absolutely love performing in small, in- timate spaces,” says Joel Dommett, once the face of MTV - until he was sacked at the age of 27 for being ‘too old’. “I’d far rather do a small gig in front of 50 people, but be doing new stuff, than do old stuff in front of 5,000 people.” Joel’s extremely committed to the business of keeping his act fresh. “I’m working on Ricky Gervais: Humanity material pretty much all the time,” ex- plains the one-time warm-up act for Justin Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Tues 27 & Wed 28 June Bieber whose television work includes There’s no doubting that Ricky Gervais has travelled a long way since his days playing Skins, Live In Chelsea and Impractical Jok- bearded chubster David Brent in hit mockumentary The Office. Hollywood movies, an ap- ers UK. “In fact, I try to put in something pearance on The Simpsons and a couple of gigs presenting the Golden Globes offer ir- new every time I go on stage. If there’s refutable evidence that he’s made the big time. But even with all that success behind him, something new in there, it brightens up he still enjoys the high-pressure challenge of a live standup tour. This latest one is his first the whole set and gives it more energy and in seven years and sees him “moaning about everything in the world from the most privi- excitement.” leged position imaginable”.

Asperger’s Are Us The Glee Club, Birmingham, Sunday 25 June This Boston comedy troupe comprises four fellas who’re on the autism spectrum but whose humour most definitely isn’t defined by the fact. Oddball characters and clever wordplay are the meat and drink of their act, the troupe performing skits and monologues that reflect their thoughts, perspectives and offbeat sensibilities. “We're the first comedy troupe composed of autistic people,” the boys reveal. “We don’t poke fun at Asperger’s and we didn’t form to prove that autistic people can be funny. We formed for the same reason anyone does comedy - to make you laugh! Please don’t expect us to be anything like The Big Bang Theory or anything else that relies on making fun of people. Expect silly, deadpan sketches that appeal to Aspies and sympathetic others alike.”

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Comedy

Stewart Lee: Content Provider Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Wed 21 June Shropshire-born Stewart Lee makes a wel- come return to the Midlands with a brand new, critically acclaimed show. Stewart first shot to fame courtesy of his partnership with Richard Herring, and then later scored a massive international hit with the musical, Jerry Springer The Opera. His style of comedy won't make for the most comfortable ride, but he's thought-provok- ing, funny and memorable, so suffering the odd moment that makes you feel awkward is a small price to pay for a great night out. Stewart is married to fellow comedian Brid- get Christie, a woman whose career is very much in the ascendant... So is there an un- comfortable competitiveness in evidence between them, one wonders? “I was doing well before I even met Brid- get,” he insists, “when she was still dress- ing up as cheese rolls and bees and things. I don’t know where you’re getting these offen- sive questions from, to be honest...”

Deborah Frances-White Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tackling tough topics with intelligence and Thurs 8 June Sommore style, the New Jersey-born performer views Birmingham Town Hall, Sat 17 June her comedy as a form of self-expression. With descriptions of her ranging from ‘the “Comedy is an expressive art,” she explains, new Whoopi Goldberg with makeup on’ to “It's not what you say, it's how you say it ‘Joan Rivers with a deep tan’, queen of that counts.” urban US comedy Sommore has also been Sommore is joined on the night by Slim, hailed ‘a force to be reckoned with’ by no Kane Brown and Marlon Davis. Gina Yashere less a modern-day icon than Oprah Winfrey. comperes.

Katy Brand: I Was A Teenage Christian The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford, Thurs 8 June; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Fri 16 June; mac, Birmingham, Sat 17 June Deborah Frances-White reckons her regular A familiar telly face on programmes such as Have I Got News For You podcasts are a worthwhile listen for any- and her very own Big Ass Show, Katy here contemplates her body who’s ever felt like they should be bet- self-imposed conversion and total immersion in evan- ter at feminism. And it would seem there are gelical Christianity at the tender age of 13. “I was plenty of people who’ve felt exactly that an obnoxious, self-important dick,” says way, the various episodes having racked up Katy, “but at least I knew I was going to between them an impressive two million- heaven. Now I’m not so sure...” plus downloads. The show met with mixed reviews in Edin- This latest installment, recorded in front of burgh last summer, with many critics sur- a live audience, sees Deborah joined by a prised by the understated delivery of some guest host for a discussion on topics that fairly undramatic material. On a more positive “all 21st century feminists agree on”. note, the Guardian described it as ‘an entertain- Along the way, they’ll be opening up about ing tale of a teenager’s search for herself, and the insecurities and fears that underlie their of the impulses that drive some of us into reli- ‘lofty principles’. gion’s comforting embrace’. whatsonlive.co.uk 23 Addams Family DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 17:17 Page 1

FEATURE

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by Heather Kincaid The Addams Family

America’s creepiest, kookiest clan arrive in the Midlands...

Their house may be a museum, but not matchmaker for this unconventional love them, but you never see them being mean or everyone is itching to go over there and see between Wednesday and Lucas, the normal horrible.” ’em: for the lovestruck Lucas Beineke and his and the ‘unnormal’, and he champions that “They think that they’re completely normal,” unwitting parents, the Addams Family’s way while in an unconventional love affair agrees Samantha Womack, who plays the of life is just mysterious, spooky and himself. I love that he gets the chance to bring ever-immaculate Morticia, “and that the altogether far too “ooky” for their tastes. Yet all the pieces together - one of my favourite outside world is just horrid and disintegrating romance is apt to overcome and blossom in parts is when he’s on the balcony watching into chaos, so they feel very proud of who the unlikeliest of circumstances, at least the Beinekes in Crazier Than You.” they are” within the realms of musical theatre… The innocence and wide-eyed wonder of the “And they’re not wrong, are they?” laughs Out on its first ever UK tour following a character is perfect for this role: Fester is Dennis. successful Broadway run, Andrew Lippa’s upbeat and optimistic enough to believe that Addams Family musical presents a brand new rules can be broken and stories changed; This is the crux of Lipper’s musical: though chapter in the story of America’s creepiest, generous and genuine enough to win the trust the Beinekes are initially unsure what to kookiest clan, with the sometime sadistic of anyone; and determined enough to make make of them, it’s through their encounter Wednesday now ‘all grown up’ and ready to sure everything goes to plan. with the Addams’ unconventional habits that take on the wider world. Pity the planet then, they’re eventually able to acknowledge and “With Fester, you can kind of see how he is but particularly the boy with the audacity to liberate their true ‘crazy’ selves from self- part of the family, but he resists the fall head over heels for her. inflicted repression. It’s a journey that we, as darkness,” Dennis adds. “I’ve tried to make viewers, are invited to go along on, too - With the hapless Lucas having already him quite silly and childlike.” there’s certainly something to be envied secretly proposed, a desperate attempt at a Silliness is an important feature of this show, about the Addams’ total openness and lack of civilised ‘meet the parents’ dinner party soon in everything from the madcap costumes and concern for what anyone else might think of descends into exactly the disaster you’d choreography of the undead extended family, them. expect. But all hope is not lost: with the help to the weird, witchy old Grandma who might of some long-dead ancestors shut out of the “They base their relationships on truth and not actually be anybody’s grandmother after family crypt, a fairy godmother of a sort is on honesty and nothing is taboo,” says Fletcher. all. But as Carrie Hope Fletcher, who’s hand to carry us out of the chaos - and he “The relationship that Morticia and Gomez enjoyed portraying Wednesday’s newfound comes in the rather unexpected form of Uncle have is so sexual and nothing’s held back womanhood, points out, as dysfunctional as Fester, played with undisguised delight by Les from the children.” the family might seem at first, beneath the Dennis. surface, they’re perhaps not as unusual as “I always like doing characters where I get to “When I spoke to the director while we were you’d think. try out a part of my personality that I might still at the beginning of rehearsals, he gave like to explore more if I was confident “The thing about the Addams Family is that me a key to the character by saying that Fester enough,” says Womack. “I love the fact that they never actually do anything malicious,” is almost like Puck [in A Midsummer Night’s Morticia doesn’t make small talk and is very she says. “They’ve always got that edge to Dream],” Dennis explains. “He’s the still and contained. I’m not like that. I have to

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continued...

fill the gaps - I’m a people pleaser, so there’s in the line where the bull says to the matador, and when I started doing auditions the something quite liberating about this.” ‘I hate you. Well done.’” character just came to me really easily. Sometimes you pick something that you “I wish I was as confident as Wednesday,” Having accrued a huge following of young really want to do and it just doesn’t come, but Fletcher admits. “They’re all so sure of who fans through her vlogging and writing as well I felt Morticia coming through like tendrils.” they are.” as her performances, Carrie Hope Fletcher will have the privilege of introducing whole For Fletcher, meanwhile, the whole thing has Ultimately, this serves to make them a much new audiences to the Addams Family. But as been a dream come true. stronger family unit - the love and loyalty they she can personally attest, there’s also plenty share is completely genuine. It’s also the “I sobbed before I went on stage the first in the show for existing Addams enthusiasts reason why the show has gone down such a night,” she laughs. “A few years ago, I got to enjoy. storm so far, for all it might seem an odd asked to do a concert with Andrew Lippa, choice for a Broadway musical. As much as it “I love The Addams Family. I was obsessed who gave me Pulled from The Addams Family taps into the eccentric humour of its sources, with the movies as a child, and I really enjoy to sing, and I just completely fell in love with there’s also an emotionally resonant side to all the dark, Burton-esque type stuff. Dark it. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t known there was this story that will strike a chord with any stories rarely get made into musicals, and I a musical before, so I bought the soundtrack family, however ordinary or crazy they might think that’s what makes this such a fun thing. and devoured everything I possibly could. be. There’s just so much to play with!” Then after the concert, I said to my agent, if there’s ever a whiff of it coming to the West “Parts of this story are so poignant, like in There’s a definite care and respect for the End, please, please make sure I’m first in line Happy Sad,” says Fletcher. “You’ve got this source material in all aspects of this show, to audition for Wednesday. And it happened, crazy family with all of these ridiculous from the array of musical styles tailored to unbelievably!” things going on, and then suddenly there’s each character, to the attention to detail in this amazing song about a father not knowing the design and performances, partly drawn how to watch his daughter grow up and pass from the original Charles Addams sketches. her on to another man. My dad watched the Having recently finished a long-running role The Addams Family shows at Birmingham show last night in an absolute state!” in EastEnders, Womack was initially reluctant Hippodrome from Tuesday 6 to Saturday “Andrew Lippa talked to us about devising to jump straight into a major touring show, 10 June, and then at the Wolverhampton the lyrics,” says Womack. “He explained how feeling that only something really special Grand Theatre from Tuesday 17 to it doesn’t all have to be happy and light. could tempt her. But after reading through the Saturday 21 October Sometimes you find the most beautiful script, she was immediately sold. answers in a place of pain and darkness, like “It’s so much more than I expected it to be,

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Dance previews from around the region Dance

BRB: Three Short Ballets Birmingham Hippodrome, Wed 21 - Sat 24 June “Arcadia is a narrative piece,” explains Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Ruth Brill, who’s created the work for this BRB tril- ogy. “While not telling the full story of a single myth, it draws inspiration directly from Greek mythology. The characters are Pan, the nymphs and a chorus. I also wanted to evoke the landscape of Arcadia as a mountain- ous region of Greece, through the choreography for the chorus and through the designs.” Arcadia boasts a new score composed by renowned saxo- phonist John Harle, and is performed in a programme that also features two other one-act ballets: Le Baiser de la fée, a ‘beautiful interpretation’ of a classic Hans Christian An- dersen story; and Pineapple Poll, ‘a thoroughly English Gilbert & Sullivan tale’ set aboard the HMS Hot Cross Bun.

Northern Ballet: Goldilocks Breakin’ Convention & The Three Bears The REP, Birmingham, Fri 2 - Sat 3 June Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, Wed 31 May; Touring festival Breakin’ Convention is the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Wed 14 June brainchild of pioneering dancer, director and Leeds-based Northern Ballet has developed a poet Jonzi D. Uniting top international acts with reputation for producing work that’s as much local talent in various locations, it aims to put about storytelling as it is about dancing - a fact hip-hop on an equal footing with more estab- which is very much in evidence in its latest chil- lished art forms, offering a mix of professional dren’s production. development, youth and education projects in Goldilocks & The Three Bears follows on from addition to its world-renowned events. the company’s hugely successful CBeebies TV This year's show is headlined by South Africa's adaptations of The Ugly Duckling and Tortoise Soweto Skeleton Movers, Korean bboys Just And The Hare. Dance Productions and Canadian-Swedish Forty minutes in length, the show has been de- dance duo Tentacle Tribe. signed as an enjoyable and absorbing introduc- Also contributing are local groups Jigsaw Col- tion for young children to live ballet, music and lective, Rhythm Junkiez, Street Dance Academy, theatre. Broken Silence, Marshons and Nuvo Origin.

Plan B For Utopia The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome, Wed 7 June The notion of utopia and the role which imagination and creativity can play in effecting change, both within the individual and society, is explored in this playful work of dance theatre. Presented by the Dundee-based Joan Clevillé Dance company, the show has been widely praised for its clever blending of the silly and the serious, mixing dance, theatre, storytelling and humour to excellent effect. The production also features a num- ber of classic songs, including Some- where Over The Rainbow, When You Wish Upon A Star and What A Won- derful World. whatsonlive.co.uk 27 Theatre June - New Layout 2.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:53 Page 1

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Running Wild shoreline and ran away before the tidal wave hit, saving Amber's life in the process. It was this real-life story that provided the inspiration Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 6 - Sat 10 June for Michael Morpurgo’s delightful tale, here adapted for the stage by On Boxing Day 2004, well in excess of 200,000 people perished as The Children’s Touring Partnership. waves of up to 100ft engulfed the shores of South East Asia. Yet amaz- “What you want for children is for them to work things out for them- ingly, some survived the now-infamous tsunami. Among them was a selves,” says Michael. “In this particular case, I hope that they will go girl called Amber Owen, who’d been riding an elephant along the away asking questions about what's happening in the rainforest, beach whilst holidaying in Thailand with her family. Unnerved by the about planting palm trees and about what's happening to elephants. strange activity in the water, the elephant pulled away from the But it's not being thrust down their throat.”

The Tempest Blush Our Man In Havana Stafford Castle, Thurs 22 June - Sat 8 July mac, Birmingham, Tues 20 June Lichfield Garrick, Mon 26 - Wed 28 June Shakespeare’s last and most complete play, Wildly talented collective Snuff Box Theatre Hapless and Havana-based vacuum-cleaner The Tempest also represents the culmination certainly know how to score a theatrical hit; salesman Jim Wormold is leading a less than of his art, bringing together many of the their first four endeavours - Weald, Bitch ideal life; his wife has left him and his mate- themes that informed his greatest dramas. Boxer, The Altitude Brothers and The Obser- rialistic daughter, Milly, is seriously manipu- When a wild storm forces a royal ship onto vatory - were all suitably rewarded with glit- lative. So when MI6 offer him the chance to the rocks of an enchanted isle, the cast- tering gongs aplenty. Blush has proved increase his meagre income by indulging in a aways, separated from one another, find equally successful, claiming the Stage Edin- little espionage on the side, Jim takes their themselves slipping under the control of the burgh Award at last summer’s fringe festival. bait. But with no information to send to Lon- mysterious Prospero. Written by Snuff Box co-founder Charlotte don, he decides to fake his reports and invent Matters are further confused by the presence Josephine, it presents five candid stories a fictitious network of secret agents. Not sur- of supernatural spirit Ariel and the grotesque about revenge porn and its many victims. prisingly, it’s a decision that sees his life be- man-beast, Caliban... “Blush is written from a place of rage,” ex- coming ever more complicated... This outdoor production is set in the 1930s, a plains Charlotte. “Rage at the men who com- Creative Cow are the company bringing to life golden age both for luxury cruise liners and mit revenge porn, rage at the slow-moving Clive Francis’s lively stage adaptation of Gra- Hollywood glamour, but which also wel- legal system that should protect women and ham Greene’s hilarious, subversive and ever- comed in the dying days of vaudeville... rage at our archaic sex education in schools.” popular novel.

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Theatre Theatre previews from around the region

Shirley Valentine Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Tues 6 - Sat 10 June; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Mon 10 - Sat 15 July; Malvern Theatre, Worcestershire, Mon 24 - Sat 29 July Willy Russell's classic play is a one-woman show about a Liverpool housewife who's had enough of her humdrum existence and dreams of pastures new. With a wall of her kitchen passing as her best friend and closest confidant, Shirley deter- mines to take control of her life while there's still time to effect significant change... Jodie Prenger, whose previous roles include Calamity Jane, the Lady of the Lake in Spa- malot and Nancy in Oliver! - the latter after winning BBC talent contest I’d Do Anything - stars in this major revival of the show, which last year celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Ursula Martinez: has so far seen her immersing herself in the Murdered By Murder worlds of pigeon fancying, championship Free Admission dog handling, Northern Soul dancing, beauty Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Fri 9 June The REP, Birmingham, Thurs 15 - Sat 17 June pageants and now funeral directors. Highly rated madcap duo LoveHard make a Ursula Martinez has been described as a per- Victoria’s new show, a lighthearted contem- welcome return to the Old Joint Stock. The formance provocateur - and anybody attend- plation on the subject of death, features her comedy comes thick and fast with these fel- ing this latest show will find it easy to see dad, daytime television antique dealer Mike las, so expect an impressively high laughter why. Baring all as she sets about gaining a Melody. After being diagnosed with a termi- count in this brand new, 1930s-set show. better understanding of the absurdity of nal illness, Mike allocated the job of planning When six old friends meet for a murder-mys- modern living, she shocks and surprises with his funeral to his daughter. But when he and tery party at the ominously named Drench- plenty of politically incorrect chat. She also Victoria then discovered that the doctors had blood Heights, it soon becomes apparent that builds a wall between herself and her audi- made a misdiagnosis, they decided to go what could’ve been the night of their lives ence using breezeblocks and cement, ex- ahead with the funeral anyway - on stage and might well turn out to be the night of their plains why she sometimes feels jealous of in front of a paying audience. deaths... Catherine Tate, rails against the need to do Eulogies, a congregation dressed in Black- admin and reveals she’s got a bit of a thing pool Football Club tangerine and a New Or- about anal hygiene. She’s not always a com- leans-style jazz procession all feature... Salomé fortable watch, but you’ll certainly leave the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon- theatre knowing you’ve experienced some- A Black Country Fairytale Avon, Fri 2 June - Wed 6 September thing just that little bit different. The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, Oscar Wilde’s lyrical drama, written in Fri 16 June: The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster, French and originally banned in England, re- Sat 17 June counts in a single act the biblical story of Award-winning Midlands theatre company Herod Antipas’s daughter, Salomé. Fizzog Productions make a welcome return to Sexually rejected by imprisoned prophet the stage with a show they describe as ‘an- Jokanaan (John the Baptist), her lust-driven other non-traditional tale of fantasy, per- desire for vengeance sees her demanding his fected in a single afternoon’s rehearsal!’ head on a silver platter, as reward for her per- Comprising Sue Hawkins, Jacky Fellows and forming the dance of the seven veils... Deb Nicholls - and occasionally featuring Wilde was incarcerated in Reading Gaol guest performers - when his play premiered in Paris in 1896; it the company is best would be 35 more years before it received its known for stage pro- first public performance in England. Ugly Chief ductions 50 Shades Presented by the RSC to mark the 50th an- Of Fizzog and niversary of the decriminalisation of homo- Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tues 6 June Freezin’, and for its sexuality in England and Wales, this Victoria Melody’s theatre work is inspired by creation of internet contemporary take on Wilde’s poetic master- ethnography, the systematic study of people sensations The piece features nudity and scenes of a sexual and cultures. Her unusual creative process Dancing Grannies. nature.

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Theatre previews from around the region Theatre

The Graduate Malvern Theatre, Worcestershire, Tues 13 - Sat 17 June In a tale well embedded in the cultural con- sciousness, the hapless Benjamin Braddock embarks on an ill-advised affair with the wife of his father’s boss - and then proceeds to complicate matters further by falling for her daughter... Terry Johnson’s witty play is an adaptation of the celebrated 1967 movie starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft. Olivier Award-nominated Catherine McCor- mack, whose films include Braveheart and Spy Game, plays the luminously seductive Mrs Robinson.

The Murderer an admirable plan that will enable him to Around The World continue any affair he wishes, without the The Hive, Worcester, Tues 13 June; Arena unpleasant business of a husband’s suspi- In 80 Days Theatre, Wolverhampton, Tues 27 June cions or jealousy getting in his way. New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, If you fancy enjoying a thought-provoking Fri 23 June - Sat 8 July evening of theatre while at the same time Jules Verne’s famous story follows the adven- lending your support to some fast-emerging tures of Phileas Fogg and his French valet, local talent, this could well be the show to Passepartout, as they attempt to circumnavi- catch. It’s presented by Clown Funeral, a gate the globe in only 80 days in order to win West Midlands ensemble whose work - bring- a £20,000 wager... This particular stage adap- ing together storytelling, physical theatre and tation of the 1873 novel is presented by the clowning - is inspired by ‘unusual stimuli’, in New Vic in association with Manchester’s this particular case a darkly comic poem by Royal Exchange Theatre. Luke Kennard. A three-hander presented in Edinburgh last summer with a revolving cast of five, the show is set in a world in which the rehabilita- tion of criminals is achieved via care in the community. Focusing on the relationship be- The Ramayana tween a murderer and her supervisor, who The REP, Birmingham, Thurs 22 - Sat 24 June move into a flat together, the production fea- The spiritual and the secular are brought to- tures ‘surreal humour, subtle physical the- gether by the Young REP 18-25 Company in atre and noir-inspired scenes’. their new adaptation of an ancient Indian epic poem. Prince Rama, the earthly incarnation of Hindu god Vishnu, goes into a voluntary 14- year exile with his bride, Sita, and his brother, Prince Lakshman. But when Sita is abducted from their forest home by a 10- headed demon, the two princes set out on a As You Like It dangerous quest to save her - aided and abet- Maples Hayes Hall Gardens, Lichfield, ted in their efforts by an army of monkey Wed 21 - Sat 24 June people... Shakespeare’s highly likable comedy The Country Wife revolves around the character of Rosalind, banished by her usurping uncle to the Forest Ludlow Brewery, South Shropshire, Of Arden, where her exiled father is already Wed 14 - Thurs 22 June; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 24 June living. Revelling in the naturalness of their surroundings, Rosalind and her companions This fast-paced take on William Wycherley's - cousin Celia and Touchstone the fool - Restoration comedy is presented by Rooftop find a happiness they hadn’t known existed... Theatre. It focuses on the character of Harry This outdoor production is presented by Horner, a London playboy who’s developed Shakespeare In The Park. whatsonlive.co.uk 33 Theatre June - New Layout 2.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:53 Page 7 Theatre June - New Layout 2.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:53 Page 8

Theatre previews for younger audiences from around the region Theatre

Sarah & Duck’s Big Top Birthday Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Sat 3 June; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 10 June; mac, Birmingham, Sun 18 - Tues 20 June Young fans of BAFTA award-winning CBee- bies programme Sarah & Duck are sure to cry fowl (geddit?) if you fail to take them along to this new live version of the show. Puppetry, storytelling and music are imagi- natively combined as seven-year-old Sarah and her somewhat manic companion set out on yet another adventure. This one sees them planning a birthday party for Scarf Lady, ably assisted in their endeavours by fabulous friends The Ribbon Sisters, The Shallots, Flamingo & John and Umbrella. The show comes from the same stable as the Charlie And Lola series.

Ben & Holly’s tation of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, the tal- Reginald Rake, a scarecrow who’s deter- ented ensemble also perform Memories - A mined to stake his claim for Betty... Little Kingdom Musical Montage, a show which takes a look Scamp present this well-reviewed show on New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, back at some of their previous productions. the back of their critically acclaimed adapta- Wed 28 - Thurs 29 June; The Place, Oaken- tions of two other Donaldson and Scheffler gates Theatre, Shropshire, Sat 24 - Sun 25 June Don’t Dribble On books - Stick Man and Tiddler And Other Ter- rific Tales. The team behind Peppa Pig here present a The Dragon stage version of another of their splendid cre- ations. Originally a BAFTA award-winning The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire, Sun 4 June television animation, it focuses on the adven- tures of fairy princess Holly and her best pal The late Paul Daniels was the high-profile Ben, a wingless elf who flies on the back of prestidigitator behind the marvellous mo- Gaston the Ladybird. In this particular show, ments of magic contained in this production, the two chums help Gaston clean up his a brand new stage adaptation of the book by messy cave, go on a trip into The Big World Steven Lee. with tooth-fairy Nanny Plum and plan a sur- Taking as its theme the importance of family, prise birthday party for King Thistle. Expect the show is a musical adventure about a tod- plenty of games, songs and laughter... dler named Tom who, as well as having an older brother, has a secret dragon and a drib- bling problem. When the young chap’s endless drooling drives a slobbery wedge between him and his sibling, it’s up to the dragon to try and re- solve the problem - with a little help from Kid Carpet’s Super Mega that aforementioned magic, of course... Rockin’ Rock Show mac, Birmingham, Sat 24 June The Scarecrows’ Wedding “I began making music with old keyboards, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 30 June toys, computers, a sellotaped-up broken elec- This heartwarming Scamp Theatre adapta- tric guitar and a punk-rock DIY attitude,” re- tion of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s veals Ed Patrick in talking about the origin of bestselling book tells the tale of two top his alter ego, Kid Carpet. The Little Mermaid Jnr scarecrows, Betty O’Barley and Harry O’Hay. With a good few kids’ shows behind him, the When the loved-up couple decide it’s time to Bristol-based performer here reveals every- The , Birmingham, thing youngsters need to know if they fancy Thurs 15 - Sat 17 June tie the knot, Harry heads off in search of nu- merous wedding-day essentials. But there’s ‘rocking out big-time’. The award-winning Birmingham Youth The- trouble brewing back in the field. The Stories, games, songs and opportunities for atre take to the stage to celebrate their 30th farmer’s now without Harry, so replaces him audience participation all add to the fun. anniversary. As well as their hour-long adap- with the devilishly smooth but dangerous whatsonlive.co.uk 35 Salome DPS.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2017 08:50 Page 1

FEATURE

SALOMÉThe RSC presents a contemporary take on Oscar Wilde’s poetic masterpiece Salome DPS.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2017 08:50 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid

Fifty years on from the decriminalisation of Salomé’s iconic dance - an erotic performance political - it feels like there’s a whole political homosexuality, Owen Horsley revisits Oscar requested by her father-in-law, King Herod, in world about to crumble. Herod seems so Wilde’s Salomé in a radical new RSC exchange for anything she asks of him. It’s a much like a modern politician, especially production. particularly unsettling scene which leads the when we live in a world with people like story to its violent climax, and one for which Trump. He has no filter, and that’s dangerous, On 25 May 1895, poet, playwright, novelist Wilde offers little written direction. and when you see him and hear him in the and internationally renowned wit Oscar play, you think, my God, this is a scary world Wilde was convicted of ‘gross indecency’ and “We’ve always seen the dance as a way of we’re in! He’s so emotionally volatile.” sentenced to two years’ hard labour. For Salomé sticking two fingers up at Herod - the years, Wilde had pursued same-sex love and way she leads him on and gives him what he This political angle is something being romance free from interference, but wants in order to get what she wants. But exploited much more openly in the National somewhat inevitably for someone so much in there’s also a moment in which the dance Theatre’s concurrent production of Salomé, the public eye, the draconian sexual morality becomes about Salomé revealing who she is - with Yaël Farber rewriting the play to tell the laws of his time eventually caught up with a moment of exposing herself and being story of a Middle Eastern uprising against him. vulnerable. From that moment on, she has all corrupt Roman leaders, with obvious the strength in the world.” overtones of this century’s Arab Spring. Along Though Wilde was never publicly ‘out’, as the with a Theatre Lab production at Hoxton Hall prosecution in his trial underlined, the tell- Of course, a dance requires music, and in February, Horsley’s take will be the third tale signs of his sexuality are inscribed Horsley found the ideal accompaniment for version of Salomé this year - surprising for a throughout his works in an array of his production in the songs of contemporary play so often overshadowed by Wilde’s more unspeakable desires, from the yearning of artist Mark Hadreas, better known as Perfume popular comedies. painter Basil Hallward for his beautiful model Genius. in The Picture Of Dorian Gray, to the dizzying “It’s crazy! It’s like buses - you wait for one for “I’ve been a fan for years and years, and it array of forbidden lusts alluded to in Salomé - hours and then two come along at once. I find was actually one of the first decisions I made. including incest, adultery, murder, it so interesting that plays just seem to have a There’s a kind of mythic view on gender and necrophilia, unrequited love for a social trend about them. But I love Yaël Farber’s sexuality in his lyrics that is to do with spirits, superior and desire for a celibate holy man, as work and her version is very different, so I’m essence and feeling, which I think is so clear well as subtle hints of homosexuality. looking forward to seeing how another in Wilde’s writing, too. director interprets the play.” It’s the latter that director Owen Horsley is “We’ve always tried to find a song that is an setting out to radically reimagine at the RSC’s Despite a longstanding personal connection extension of the person who’s been speaking Swan Theatre this season. Fifty years on from to its story, this year will mark the first time before, so it’s like the song adds to the feeling. the decriminalisation of Wilde’s ‘love that Horsley has ever seen the play performed on It’s also a wonderfully unsentimental play, so dare not speak its name’, the beautiful, stage. I think it works that we’ve just used little bits bloodthirsty princess at the centre of the story and that the songs are sometimes cut off by “I’ve never seen it, but it was in my house will be portrayed for the first time by a male the action.” when I was a kid and I remember reading it performer, Matthew Tennyson. when I was younger. I also remember going to For the dance itself, he’s chosen the “One of the things we wanted to do at the RSC the Met Museum in New York and seeing the “muscular, heavy” number, Grid, which was to honour this anniversary year, and that Regnault painting of Salomé. My mum loved “builds [and] goes on a journey”, reflecting led me to a way of viewing the play through a it and bought a print of it which still hangs in the importance of the moment for Salomé. gay lens,” Horsley explains. “In a sense, it’s the house, so Salomé is one of those figures also looking at where we are now, because I Redefining a classic role for the 21st century who has somehow always been present for think a lot of the arguments are now around required careful casting - a performer who me. Even though they’re done more, I feel like gender. We’re looking at it in terms of gender could not only fully inhabit the part, but who I know this play better than Wilde’s wittier fluidity and ambiguity, so while Matthew isn’t could also get to grips with Wilde’s language, comedies, and perhaps even know those playing it as a girl, we’re not changing things and successfully bridge the gap between plays better for doing this one.” like ‘she’ or ‘her’. We want to create a level of Ancient Rome, Victorian England and Britain While the ability to approach a text free from questioning in the audience.” today. the influence of earlier productions can be a This notion of gender as something slippery, “I’ve worked a lot in classical theatre, which gift for a director, attempting to stage the play constructed or even performed is highlighted is very heightened and rhythmic, but the text has given Horsley some insight into why it’s through a focus on heightened theatricality, in this play is very, very unique. It’s a play so infrequently put on. reflected in the style and design. that’s filled with poetry, love, desire and also “It’s a pretty tough play to do. It’s brilliant but a lot of rage and anger. It takes a certain level “I really wanted to embrace the idea of because it’s just one act, it lacks the form that of imagination, intelligence and wit to be able theatre, so the set is kind of an extension of other plays give you for free. You push the to deliver that, and Matthew Tennyson has the Swan. For example, we have a lovely ball off the hill and it just keeps rolling, so that in spades.” wooden door which feels like part of the stage you have to embrace that and enjoy the floor. I felt very strongly about creating a Salomé’s exploration of issues around gender process of doing something that seems to be space in which the language can live, because and power ties in neatly with the themes constantly spiralling out of control.” it’s so poetic and full of imagery that I think explored in Shakespeare plays like Antony & something that’s a bit starker helps the words Cleopatra, currently running at the Royal to come alive.” Shakespeare Theatre as part of an ongoing Rome season. Salomé shows at the RSC’s Swan Theatre Nowhere is the self-referential emphasis on from Friday 2 June until Wednesday artifice and acting more apparent than in “I also love Salomé because it’s so brilliantly 6 September Wonderland DPS.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2017 08:55 Page 1

FEATURE

WonderlandCuriouser and curiouser! Broadway composer Frank Wildhorn takes a tumble down the rabbit hole with his spectacular new musical Wonderland DPS.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2017 08:55 Page 2

by Heather Kincaid

It was in 1886 that the wacky world of she's middle-aged, a mother going something off the page and thinking Alice's Adventures In Wonderland first through a messy separation with her through how I can best tell the story. In the made it onto the stage, in an adaptation partner, as well as a schoolteacher with case of Wonderland, we’ve got nothing that the novel's author, Lewis Carroll ambitions of becoming a children's writer. really to copy, and that’s lovely. I don’t (otherwise known as Cambridge Much like the books then, it aims to think that any actor should ever copy mathematician Charles Dodgson), had a present a child's-eye view of the what’s been before, though of course if the hand in. complexities and contradictions of the material’s out there you’re going to have a grown-up world. sneaky look at what’s been done Within the writer's lifetime then, the topsy- previously! But apart from a performance turvy story and its cast of colourful “It all starts with the idea of the child by the Broadway cast at the Tony Awards, characters were already delighting within us all,” Wildhorn continues. “The there’s little else online - and I love that audiences in performance, and a mere 17 opening lyrics of my song, Finding because I can think through the character years later, they were being interpreted Wonderland, are ‘We move too fast; we myself and hopefully bring something new through the exciting new medium of film. miss so much’. And it’s true - there is a to it. Wonderland in all our lives if we could One of the latest companies to join the only take a breath and notice it. In this “It's always fun to play baddies, but you long and noble tradition of reinventing particular adventure, Alice has to rescue must find something in them that makes Alice is led by Broadway composer Frank her own child, and in doing so, she people like them a little bit. I'd like to Wildhorn, whose work on shows like rediscovers the child within herself.” think there’s a bit of all my comedy heroes Jekyll & Hyde, Victor/Victoria and Bonnie in my Queen of Hearts: Molly Sugden, & Clyde has earned him international “Frank's taken the Lewis Carroll story and Peggy Mount and Patricia Routledge, who acclaim. First performed in 2009, done something really exciting with it,” played Hyacinth 'Bouquet' Bucket in Wonderland has already enjoyed success adds Director Lotte Wakeham. “In the Keeping Up Appearances. She's a monster, in the States; now a reworked version with original, Alice doesn't really do very much but part of you can't help loving her!” a British cast is touring the UK. - she's essentially a tourist in Wonderland. We've looked at how we can make the While more than a century's-worth of Following a sneak preview of some of the heroine of our show go on a great, adaptations might have made the fabulous songs from the show, both cast energising adventure with her daughter characters familiar in other forms, the and creative team were on hand to tell us and the audience.” versions of them in Wonderland are unlike more about what audiences can expect any you've previously encountered. when the show visits the Midlands next Having conceived the show while living in month. New York, it's perhaps no surprise that One of the most obvious breaks from Wildhorn chose the city as the setting for tradition is the Mad Hatter, who will be “In the late ’90s, I was fortunate enough to its original stage outing. Just like in his played by a young woman, Natalie have three shows on Broadway,” says story to his children, Alice ends up back in McQueen. There's a good reason for this Wildhorn, “Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Wonderland via the lift to her apartment. change. Instead of the mad old man we're Pimpernel and Civil War, and so I was used to, McQueen's Hatter is feisty, edgy living on the Upper West side in a big high- “For the UK tour, we’ve gone back to the and full of attitude. For her, getting to play rise building. I have two sons, and the original story,” says Wakeham, “and it will the part has been a dream come true. elevator up to our home was always be UK based, with a relevant look and broken. Eventually I was running out of sound. Since the source material is so “Alice In Wonderland is up there with The stories to tell my kids about why they quirky and quintessentially British, this Little Mermaid as one of my favourite couldn’t fix the elevator, and for some version of the show is exactly that, too.” films,” she gushes. “It's just completely reason I told them that if anyone did bonkers and I love it. “I've been inspired by the original manage to get on it, and take it all the way illustrations and other incarnations of the Frank Wildhorn hopes that audiences down through Macy’s department store, story,” explains Costume Designer Grace from eight to 80 will be just as entranced they'd eventually get to Wonderland.” Smart, “but I've also tried to give it a fresh by the magic of Wonderland as McQueen Wildhorn’s kids are by no means an angle. I’ve been looking at a lot of the UK’s has been, and wants everyone who comes unusual source of inspiration for him. A eccentric celebrities, so that we can keep along to fully immerse themselves in the previous family musical, Excalibur, came the British feel yet keep true to the original spirit of the show. about as an attempt to engage his children story.” “We're hoping the audience will come with the story of Camelot, which his For the cast, getting to put their own dressed up as the characters,” he laughs. parents had loved and taught to him, but stamp on roles completely new to UK “You should definitely encourage that!” which his own kids didn't seem to “get”. audiences, and with almost no precedent Departing somewhat from Carroll's vision, to turn to, has also been a thrill. the story of Wonderland taps into this parent-child dynamic and the idea of the “My job is to be creative,” says Wendi Wonderland shows at the Regent passing on of stories. Like the recent Tim Peters, who plays the Queen of Hearts. “I Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, from Mon 10 Burton films, it sees Alice return to don't like doing anything for too long, and to Sat 15 July and at the Wolverhampton Wonderland as an adult, only this time I just love the process of reading Grand Theatre from Mon 31 July to Sat 5 August. BE Festival DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 16:46 Page 1

FEATURE

36 whatsonlive.co.uk BE Festival DPS.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 16:46 Page 2

by Peter Joshua BE FESTIVAL The soul of Europe in the heart of Birmingham...

Created in 2010 as a direct response to Birmingham’s need for more international work, BE Festival annually brings together artists from across Europe to showcase a diverse range of contemporary theatre. The event is the brainchild of Miguel Oyarzun and Isla Aguilar. “We were invited to attend a conference organised by the Arts Council to look at how to improve diversity in the Midlands,” recalls Miguel. “A recurring theme throughout the conference was the lack of international work visiting the region, so we suggested filling the void with a festival.” Asked to summarise what the BE Festival has done for Birmingham, Isla and Miguel offer a modest response: “It’s about what the city has given to us, because it’s quite a feat for two Spanish people to run a theatre festival here in Birmingham. The city is very welcoming to strangers. We’ve always felt very supported, and that’s fantastic.”

BE Festival 2017 highlights:

Asingleline Portraits And Short Stories Anatomia Pública (Public Anatomy) Frankfurt-based theatre & dance collective Dutch company Panama Pictures makes Man Drake / Tomeo Vergés Mamaza look to ‘re-constitute the red line’ use of ropes, trampolines and acrobatics to Man Drake’s traditionally playful approach by literally drawing a straight line between explore the relationships that bind together to their work is once again in evidence Birmingham’s Ladywood area and The Rep, families and different generations. here, as the company recounts a story of tracing the connection between the city and The piece features six male performers aged strange and fractured relationships in the its spaces for public arts. A line will run between 20 and 60, unpicks father-and-son aftermath of war. The piece is performed in through spaces such as parks, squares and relationships and traces the lines bridging an intense style that bridges physical the- high streets, as well as houses, restaurants youthful bravado with quiet vulnerability. atre and dance. and bars. Solitudes Revolt Athens Aerobics! A Ballet In 3 Acts Spain-based Kulunka Theatre Company’s Odc Ensemble/Vyrsodepseio Featuring seven dancers presenting a care- production explores the sense of disconnec- Three politically-minded cast members fully choreographed performance struc- tion that can accompany the experience of offer insights into post-crisis Greece. The tured across three distinct acts, Haptic reaching old age. As with Kulunka’s previ- company behind the show, Odc Ensemble, Tide’s production places aerobics in a dif- ous work, the cast wear masks which show provide a unique city guide to Athens, pre- ferent context. The company has been ‘striking, characterful expressions’. There’s senting through performance, video footage highly praised for its exploration of the con- no dialogue, meaning that body language and music ‘a multi-faceted window into the nections between documentary theatre, and movement become the key means by living and breathing reality of a place’. oral history and dance. which the characters’ relationships are ex- Odc Ensemble are an international, politi- plained. cally-orientated group whose work often in- corporates non-actors in public spaces.

BE Festival shows at The REP, Birmingham, from Tuesday 4 to Saturday 8 July. For more information, visit befestival.org

whatsonlive.co.uk 37 ICHF NEC July17 - What's On:Layout 1 21/04/2017 12:36 Page 1

A world of creativity to spark your imagination! ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Friday 30 June - Sunday 2 July NEC, Birmingham 10am - 5pm (4.30pm Sun) KIDS GO FREE*

Knitting & Stitching, ceremonial Kimono DreSSing, PaPercraftS & carDmaKing elena coStella Yarn StuDio, JewellerY maKing & BeaDing JaPaneSe emBroiDererS uK, PatchworK & Quilting, worKShoPS & DemonStrationS

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// adults £8 in advance, £10 on the door Seniors £7 in advance, £9 on the door *children under 16 go free when accompanied by an adult (otherwise £4) SaVe Buy tickets on-line save www.ichfevents.co.uk each£2 aDult anDoff Senior Ticket Hotline ticKet if orDereD BY 01425 277988 5Pm mon 26 June Film June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:52 Page 2

Film

Wonder Woman CERT 12a CRITIC’S CHOICE Starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, Elena Anaya, Lucy Davis, Saïd Taghmaoui, Ewen Bremner, David Thewlis Directed by Patty Jenkins (USA) Princess Diana (Gal Gadot) is actually an Amazon living on the island nation of The- myscira. When a military pilot (Chris Pine) is washed up on the beach, she learns of the horrors of the First World War and so decides to go to London to do her bit. The fourth instalment in the so-called DC Ex- tended Universe (the last was Suicide Squad), Wonder Woman adds a bit of femi- nine muscle. Of course, she did appear in Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice, but the new film is set considerably earlier in her heroic evolution. Good, too, to see the Soli- hull-born Lucy Davis (from The Office) in such stalwart company. In 3D. Released Thurs 1 June

Film highlights released in June...

Berlin Syndrome CERT 15 (116 mins) Starring Teresa Palmer, Max Riemelt, Matthias Habich Directed by Cate Shortland (Australia) Australia’s Cate Shortland doesn’t make films very often but they’re invariably exceptional. This one is based on the novel by Melanie Joosten and stars Teresa Palmer as an Ozzie backpacker whose one-night stand with a charis- matic German man culminates in her enforced captivity. Released Fri 9 June

Baywatch CERT 15 (116 mins) My Cousin Rachel Starring Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, Alexan- dra Daddario, Kelly Rohrbach, Priyanka CERT 12a (106 mins) Chopra Directed by Seth Gordon (USA) Starring Rachel Weisz, Sam Claflin, Iain Glen, Holliday Grainger, Andrew Knott After the failure of CHiPS, Paramount has Directed by Roger Michell (UK/USA) rushed this latest TV-to-film adaptation into cinemas. The Rock is the new Hoff, a strap- Rachel Ashley is something else. Her cousin ping lifeguard who locks horns with a rival believes she murdered his guardian, but the six-packer on the Bay. This time it’s played more he gets to know her, the more he finds for laughs, although the bods will remain himself succumbing to her allure… Based on hot. the 1951 novel by Daphne du Maurier. Now showing Released Fri 9 June

whatsonlive.co.uk 39 Film June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:52 Page 3

Film highlights released in June...

present-day version, Tom Cruise is our gun- The Mummy CERT 12a The Shack CERT 12a (132 mins) Starring Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella, toting adventurer who discovers the tomb Starring Sam Worthington, Octavia Spencer, Annabelle Wallis, Jake Johnson, Courtney B of Ahmanet, an Egyptian princess who was Tim McGraw, Aviv Alush, Radha Mitchell, Vance, Russell Crowe buried alive two thousand years ago. Now Alice Braga Directed by Alex Kurtzman (USA) she’s ready to wreak her revenge. Directed by Stuart Hazeldine (USA) The Mummy has had many incarnations. Russell Crowe plays Dr Jekyll, another mon- To Mackenzie Phillips (Sam Worthington), Universal Studios first unleashed the em- strous creation ready for his own spin-off the shack is a place of pain and the memo- balmed revenant in the form of Boris franchise as part of the Universal Monsters ries of a father who submitted his mother Karloff way back in 1932. Since then every- Shared Universe [sic]. Seriously. In 3D. and himself to regular beatings. It is perhaps body from Lon Chaney Jr to Christopher Lee Released Fri 9 June ironic, then, that now he’s a grown-up mar- has played the Bandaged One. In the new ried man with three children of his own, his youngest daughter has nicknamed God CRITIC’S CHOICE ‘Papa’. Then the shack takes on a whole new identity, producing emotions of untold in- tensity… You don’t come across a film like this every day. Not only is it profoundly old-fashioned but simply quite audacious. Based on the novel by William Paul Young, it attempts to open the eyes of its audience to a whole new perspective of life – and of faith. Unfortunately, its soporific pace does it no favours and only the most devout and broad- minded are likely to embrace its message of saintly forgiveness. Released Fri 9 June

Wilson CERT 15 (94 mins) Gifted CERT 12a (101 mins) Starring Woody Harrelson, Laura Dern, Isabella Starring Chris Evans, Mckenna Grace, Lindsay Amara, Judy Greer, Cheryl Hines, Margo Mar- Duncan, Jenny Slate, Octavia Spencer, Glenn tindale Directed by Craig Johnson (USA) Plummert Directed by Marc Webb (USA) Adapted by Daniel Clowes from his own Films about child prodigies are usually de- graphic novel, Wilson is the story of a neu- cent value and this one features a seven-year- rotic and lonely divorcee who discovers that old with a rather good grasp of advanced he has a teenage daughter. All things being calculus. However, matters are complicated equal, this should be a gift of a part for when Mary’s grandmother (Lindsay Duncan) Woody Harrelson. hears of her abilities and decides to fight for Released Fri 9 June her custody. Released Fri 16 June

Churchill CERT PG (98 mins) Starring Brian Cox, Miranda Richardson, John Slattery, James Purefoy, Ella Purnell, Julian Wadham Directed by Jonathan Teplitzky (UK) With six months to go before Gary Oldman unleashes his portrayal of the British Bulldog in Joe Wright’s Darkest Hour, we have Brian Cox chewing on the title role. A character study of the prime minister plagued by doubt, depression and foreboding, the film examines his 24 hours in office prior to D- Day. Released Fri 16 June

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Film

Rock Dog CERT PG (90 mins) With the voices of Luke Wilson, Eddie Iz- zard, JK Simmons, Lewis Black, Kenan Thompson, Matt Dillon Directed by Ash Brannon (China/USA) Based on the Chinese graphic novel Ti- betan Rock Dog, this cartoon is a co-pro- duction between the People’s Republic of China and the US. Luke Wilson is the voice of Bodi, a Tibetan Mastiff who is expected to follow the family tradition and become a guard dog. But all Bodi really wants is to be a rock star… In 3D. Released Fri 16 June

Hampstead CERT 12a (103 mins) Starring Diane Keaton, Brendan Gleeson, James Norton, Lesley Manville, Jason Watkins, Simon Callow not above a bit of bad behaviour. Here, five Directed by Joel Hopkins (UK) Rough Night CERT tbc best friends from college reunite for a bache- The character Diane Keaton plays is made Starring Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, lorette weekend in Miami and accidentally up, but Brendan Gleeson’s is very much a Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, Zoë Kravitz, Demi Moore Directed by Lucia Aniello (USA) kill a male stripper. It’s played for laughs, of true-life phenomenon. He plays a varia- course. tion of Harry Hallowes, an eccentric indi- In the tradition of Bridesmaids, Sisters, Bad Released Fri 16 June vidual who lived for 20 years in a shed on Moms, et al, here comes another American Hampstead Heath. Then, when the devel- movie in which its female protagonists are opers moved in, he claimed his squatter’s rights. save the world from the clutches of an arro- Released Thurs 22 June The Book Of Henry CERT tbc Starring Naomi Watts, Jaeden Lieberher, Jacob gant former child star (Trey Parker). Then Gru Tremblay, Sarah Silverman, Lee Pace, Maddie discovers he has a twin brother, the utterly Transformers: Ziegler, Dean Norris charming Dru. Expect Minions. In 3D. Directed by Colin Trevorrow (USA) The Last KnightCERT tbc Released Fri 30 June Henry Carpenter is 11 years old and he’s writ- Starring Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Is- abela Moner, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gib- ten a plan-of-action in his book. His scheme is son, John Turturro, Laura Haddock, to rescue his neighbour Christine from the The House CERT 15 Anthony Hopkins Directed by Michael Bay clutches of her stepfather, the Police Commis- Starring Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Jason Mant- (USA) sioner (Dean Norris). Then Henry’s mother zoukas, Nick Kroll, Jeremy Renner Directed by Andrew J Cohen (USA) The fifth episode in the franchise based (Naomi Watts) finds the book… on the Hasbro toy, The Last Knight gives Having wiped out their daughter’s college Released Fri 23 June us more of the same. The most expensive fund, Scott and Kate decide to set up a casino instalment yet ($260million), the film sees in their basement to make the money back. Mark Wahlberg’s Cade Yeager team up It’s got to be better than gambling, right? with an Oxford professor (Anthony Hop- Released Fri 30 June kins) in order to find out why the Trans- formers keep on coming back to Earth. In 3D. Released Thurs 22 June

Despicable Me 3 CERT PG With the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker, Miranda Cosgrove, Jenny Slate, Steve Coogan Directed by Pierre Coffin, Kyle Balda and Eric Guillon (USA) The once-aspiring Greatest Villain of All Time, Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) is now fighting to whatsonlive.co.uk 41 Visual Arts June - New Layout (2).qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:55 Page 1

UNKNOWN LEGACY a selling exhibition of original paintings by Dr. Mohsen Keiany

1st – 31st July 2017 ‘Unknown Legacy’ is a collection of recent paintings by Dr. Mohsen Keiany based on his inspiration derived from the Persian poet, Hafiz Shirazi through a poetic journey.

‘I am very much into multi-culturalism. I believe my art can contribute not just to the aesthetic pleasure that people will experience but also enhance their understanding of diverse art traditions and the human condition.

My work covers a range that encapsulates spiritual contemplation; humans and the natural world; and human mythical suffering.’

Mohsen is a world renowned artist living in Birmingham and has exhibited his paintings in more than 70 shows throughout the United Kingdom and Internationally.

Mitchell Centre, Weeford Road, Sutton Coldfield, B75 6NA Telephone: 0121 3233776. www.artifex.co.uk Follow us on :CM Visual Arts June - New Layout (2).qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:55 Page 2

Visual Arts previews from around the region Visual Arts

Sheela Gowda Ikon, Birmingham, Fri 16 June - Sun 3 September Banglahor-based artist Sheela Gowda’s Ikon exhibition fea- tures sheets of flattened metal drums recycled into metal bowls. Called Bandlis, the bowls are used extensively in the Indian construction indus- try as a means of carrying con- crete slurry, sand and other building materials. Although the exhibition is a considered response to the gallery’s architecture, Gowda is careful to avoid referring to it as a site-specific piece. “The work may initially be inspired by the space in which it’s ex- hibited,” she explains, “but its elements could take on other variants in other spaces.”

whatsonlive.co.uk 43 Visual Arts June - New Layout (2).qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:55 Page 3

Birmingham @WHATSONBRUM Wolverhampton @WHATSONWOLVES Shropshire @WHATSONSHROPS staffordshire @WHATSONSTAFFS Worcestershire @WHATSONWORCS warwickshire @WHATSONWARWICKS

44 whatsonlive.co.uk Visual Arts June - New Layout (2).qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:55 Page 4

Visual Arts previews from around the region Visual Arts

Artist Rooms: Jenny Holzer mac, Birmingham, until Sun 10 September Hailed as a pioneer of conceptual art, Jenny Holzer uses painting, projection and LED dis- plays to produce highly political work that fo- cuses on themes of violence, power, war, sex and money. The highlight of this new exhibition of her art is the towering Blue Purple Tilt, a work com- prising seven double-sided vertical LED dis- plays. The pieces included in the show have been drawn from the Artist Rooms collection of modern and contemporary art, which is shared with museums and galleries across the UK.

Remember Me: Charlotte Hodes Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Sat 3 June - Sun 3 September A 12-metre-long frieze, consisting of 120 wall-mounted ceramic pieces, takes pride of place in Wolverhampton Art Gallery’s new Charlotte Hodes exhibition. The pieces have been arranged to create a single image that combines elegant historic patterns with con- temporary and digital imagery. A collection of intricate papercuts and a table-top installation of over 350 plates also fea- ture in the exhibition, which perfectly exemplifies the way in which Hodes’ work crosses the boundary between fine art and craft practice.

Only Light And Shadow ings that the artist was best able to articu- late his fears and observations about the The Barber Institute, Birmingham, world around him... Five of Goya’s most Fri 23 June - Sun 22 October enigmatic works take centre stage in this Francisco de Goya’s career coincided with new exhibition, which also features paint- a politically turbulent period in Spanish ings by numerous other Spanish artists, in- history - and it was through his masterful cluding Picasso and Miró. treatment of light and shadow in his paint-

Thresholds tour, Thresholds is the work of artist Mat Antarctica: Life In A Collishaw and photographic historian Pete The Waterhall Gallery, Birmingham, Hostile Land Sat 17 June - Sun 3 September James. It will be presented in the galley alongside a series of related events. Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, “Thresholds is a very different type of pho- Mon 5 June - Sun 17 September tography project,” explains Mike Best, A collection of prized historic exhibits and Board Director of Colmore BID, which is modern-day technology is brought together in supporting the enterprise. “It will provide this new interactive attraction. Designed to cel- a unique way to learn about the significant ebrate the wonders of the Antarctic continent, role Birmingham played at the very dawn the exhibition features a 360° virtual-reality ex- of photography.” perience of Halley VI, the UK’s second largest The virtual-reality art show celebrates the research facility in Antarctica. Other exhibition city’s contribution to the technology that highlights include original film footage, equip- revolutionised ‘the way we see, record, ment from Antarctic expeditions, an outfit represent and understand the visible and worn by a member of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s invisible world’. epic 1914/17 expedition and photos from cele- Showing in Birmingham prior to a short brated wildlife photographer Ben Osborne.

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Events previews from around the region Events

The Stitching, Sewing & Hobbycrafts Show NEC, Birmingham, Fri 30 June - Sun 2 July An absolute dream for craft enthusiasts, this hugely popular event features talks and demonstrations, new product launches and plenty of inspiration for the thousands of visitors who pass through its doors. Attractions at the 2017 edition of the show include jewellery-making and beading workshops, papercrafts and cardmarking, and the chance to learn how to sew. Among the event’s contributors are multi- media textile artist Elena Costello, who designs hand-knit garments for yarn companies, and Stephanie Redfern and Sue Bibby, both of whom base their work on the natural world. Other highlights of the show include a collection of ceremonial kimonos and accessories, and a new exhibition from Stitch In The Middle - the Midlands-located members of the Contemporary Quilt Group.

Step Back To The 1940s Dinosaurs In The Wild Severn Valley Railway, Bridgnorth, NEC, Birmingham, Sat 24 - Sun 25 June and Sat 1 - Sun 2 July Sat 24 June - Wed 23 August All aboard for a Severn Valley Railway train Dramatic storytelling and high-end digital journey back in time to the 1940s. graphics and animatronics lie at the heart The railway’s lighthearted homage to wartime of this brand new show. Britain features an impressive selection of The 70-minute experience combines attractions up and down the line. theatre, theme park fun and the very Visitors are encouraged to get dressed up and join latest scientific research to create an the event’s costumed re-enactors, with ‘Prime immersive adventure that’s ‘designed to Minister Winston Churchill’ and ‘King George VI’ make you feel as though you’re really both in attendance. there, in amongst the dinosaurs, in their Taking place across two weekends, the festival world, at their time’. includes firefighting reenactments, vintage bus The show has been created by the award- rides, musical entertainment, a wartime winning producers of the hit BBC TV newsreel, a vintage marketplace and a big band series, Walking With Dinosaurs. show featuring the Worcestershire Jazz Orchestra. “Your Dinosaurs In The Wild experience will be like stepping into the most unforgettable yet educational story ever,” they explain, “and we can promise a few The Cosford Air Show incredible surprises along the way. So get RAF Cosford, Sun 11 June yourself ready for the ultimate voyage of Regarded as one of the country’s top discovery!” aviation events, Cosford’s annual air show attracts thousands of visitors and features spectacular flying displays, military exhibitions and static aircraft displays. Highlights of this year’s event include celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The show also focuses on the UK’s involvement in space technology and includes numerous exhibits from several public displays. whatsonlive.co.uk 47 Events June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 17:04 Page 3

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Events previews from around the region Events

Dragonboat Festival Brindleyplace, Birmingham, Sat 24 June This well-established annual fundraiser sees members of the READER city’s business community OFFER! competing for first place on Birmingham’s Fazeley Canal. 20% off for What’s On This year, the organisers have set readers - quote WB20 themselves the challenge of raising when booking online £100,000 for Birmingham-based The BBC Good Food Show blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia. NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 15 - Sun 18 June The one-day event features Brimming with inspiration, handy tips and very own Glynn Purnell - the four-day event numerous teams taking to the water sure-to-be-welcome advice on how to create also offers visitors an abundance of - in fancy dress - in traditional the perfect summer menu, the BBC Good Food demonstrations, tastings, book signings and Chinese longboats. Show returns to the NEC to provide a food shopping experiences to enjoy. The festival also boasts plenty of experience ‘like no other’. The BBC Good Food Kitchen and the entertainment away from the canal, In addition to the host of celebrities who’re on Supertheatre make a welcome return too. with Brindleyplace’s public squares hand to share their knowledge - including A ticket to the show also provides access to the being brought to life by traditional Michel Roux Jr (pictured), Mary Berry, James BBC Gardeners’ World Live event, taking place Chinese street entertainment and Martin, Nadiya Hussein and Birmingham’s at the NEC at the same time. numerous family-friendly activities.

Summer In Southside Birmingham Hippodrome, Sat 17 - Sun 18 June Birmingham’s Southside district once again plays host to a selection of free outdoor events this month, with dance, music and theatre performances all featuring in the festival’s two- day programme. The theme for 2017 is ‘the great outdoors’, so visitors shouldn’t be surprised to see Farmer Giles in attendance, complete with five-bar gate and pearls of wisdom on all manner of subjects. Birmingham’s original mega-folk favourites The Destroyers are on hand too, bringing their unique brand of madcap energy and musical virtuosity to the Southside stage. Other attractions include Roots - a production centred on the experiences of two refugees living in the branches of a towering tree - A Country Fayre Picnic - an interactive storytelling adventure inspired by traditional folk tales - and Step Hop House, a quirky, colourful and ener- getic collision of dance and music.

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Your week by week listings guide June 2017 thelist

Idina Menzel at Symphony Hall, Birmingham - Monday 19 June

Music I Comedy I Theatre I Dance I Film I Events I Visual Arts I and more!

What’s On Thurs 1 to Sun 11 June Mon 12 to Sun 18 June Mon 19 to Sun 25 June Mon 26 to Fri 30 June

Summer Market at Kevin & Karen dance at Foodies Festival at Madam Butterfly at The Bond in Digbeth Symphony Hall Cannon Hill Park Birmingham Hippodrome Sat 10 June Sun 18 June Fri 23 - Sun 25 June Tues 27 - Fri 30 June

whatsonlive.co.uk 51 The List NEW Birmingham 1 - 4 June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:36 Page 1

thelist Thursday 1 - Sunday 4 June THROUGHOUT JUNE Gigs

The Japanese bridge over the water CALE TYSON Thurs 1 Visual Arts lily pond in Monet’s garden at June, Hare & Hounds, Giverny is the subject of this spectac- Birmingham ular painting, on loan from the Art In- THE CHRISTIANS Thurs Birmingham Museum & stitute of Chicago, Sat 24 June - Sun 1 June, The Jam Art Gallery 10 Sept House, Birmingham I WANT! I WANT!: ART & TECHNOLOGY A curated selection from the Arts Coun- mac, Birmingham TAKE THAT Thurs 1 - Sat cil Collection - with key loans from 3 June, Genting NEW FUTUREMAKERS A summer-long Arena, Birmingham other major collections - that pres- programme which aims to inspire the ents the work of contemporary artists designers and makers of the future THE SESSIONS - A LIVE using new technologies, until Sun 1 through acts of playing, making and RE-STAGING OF THE The Hoosiers - Queen Square, Wolverhampton Oct building. An exhibition of historical BEATLES AT ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS Thurs 1 June, and contemporary examples of de- SOUTER Fri 2 June, Grand Theatre, Barclaycard Arena, Ikon Gallery signing through play accompanies mac, Birmingham Wolverhampton the residency programme, Sat 17 Birmingham NEW SIDNEY NOLAN One of the most FROM THE JAM Fri 2 EMMA BLACKERY Sat 3 June - Sun 3 Sept HARVEY SUTHERLAND important Australian artists of the June, The Robin, Bil- June, O2 Institute, Thurs 1 June, Hare & 20th century, who lived the last 10 ston Birmingham years of his life on the Welsh-Mid- Hounds, Birmingham BOM (B’ham Open Media) ENJOY WOLVERHAMP- KICK UP THE 80'S Sat 3 lands border, Sat 10 June - Sun 3 RISCAS, KING PURPLE, NEW A WHITE HOUSE ON PARADISE TON LIVE! Featuring June, The Roadhouse, Sept THE REAL COOL & JUN- The Hoosiers, Birmingham STREET Exhibition inspired by what IOR WEEB Thurs 1 Toploader, Kevin may be the first Daguerreotype June, The Sunflower WILL AND THE PEOPLE RBSA Gallery Simm, Lucy Spraggan image made in Birmingham, and po- Lounge, Birmingham Sat 3 June, The Sun- NEW TWO DISTANT VIEWS - JOHANNA tentially the first in England using the and CBeebies’ flower Lounge, B’ham ASHBY ARBSA AND MAJELLA O'NEILL Daguerreotype process (invented in INTO THE ARK Fri 2 favourite Swashbuck- SUNJAY Sat 3 June, COLLINS Close friends Johanna and 1839 by Louis Daguerre, using silver- June, O2 Institute, lers, Cook and Line! Newhampton Arts Majella exhibit their different ap- plated copper), Sat 17 June - Sat 2 Birmingham Sat 3 June, Queen Centre, W’hampton proaches to expressing in art their Sept FRED'S HOUSE Fri 2 Square, Wolverhamp- love of the West Cork coastline, Mon June, Artrix, Worces- ton FAITH - THE GEORGE 12 - Sat 24 June Other VISUAL ARTS tershire THE JACKOBINS Sat 3 MICHAEL LEGACY Sat 3 June, Lichfield Garrick NEW NEW CURATORS: WATERCOLOUR MAX EASTLEY - AEOLIAN HARP AND LEO SAYER Fri 2 June, June, O2 Academy, DERMOT HEGARTY New curator volunteers have selected SCULPTURES FOR PERROTT’S FOLLY An Birmingham Town Hall Birmingham Sun 4 June, Irish Centre, a range of watercolours by RBSA installation involving eight lightweight WRAPPED IN PLASTIC, THE SMYTHS Sat 3 Birmingham artists to explore and champion this Aeolian harps mounted on the roof of ST LUCIFER & VIEON Fri June, O2 Academy, often-overlooked medium, Thurs 15 - Perrott’s Folly, a landmark 18th cen- 2 June, The Flapper, Birmingham NEON WALTZ Sun 4 Sat 24 June tury tower in Birmingham’s Lady- Birmingham QUILL Sat 3 June, Ar- June, Hare & Hounds, wood district, until Sun 18 June, Birmingham NEW FRIENDS 2017 The annual display VAN ROCKMAN, ROLLIN’ trix, Bromsgrove of artwork by the Friends promotes Perrott's Folly, Birmingham SIXES & THE AND FINALLY... PHIL THE MERSEY BEATLES their range of artistic talents and ac- THE EXTRAORDINARY LIVES OF EVERY- CAROUSELS Thurs 1 COLLINS Sat 3 June, Sun 4 June, Hare & knowledges their importance to the DAY PEOPLE Exhibition exploring the June, The Flapper, The Core Theatre, Hounds, Birmingham Society, Thurs 29 June - Sat 22 July extraordinary lives of everyday Birm- Birmingham Solihull THAT'LL BE THE DAY Sun ingham people, until Sat 1 July, Soho JOHN SMYTHE Fri 2 4 June, Wolverhamp- The Barber Institute House, Birmingham MAZ MITRENKO Sat 3 June, Irish Centre, June, Hare & Hounds, ton Grand Theatre NEW MORE REAL THAN LIFE This exhibi- TOTALITY (2015) BY KATIE PATERSON Birmingham Birmingham MOSTLY AUTUMN Sun 4 tion explores early photographic stu- The artwork is large rotating mirror UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE June, The Robin, Bil- dio portraiture, including the popular ball that illuminates and sparkles with JANE MCDONALD Sat 3 Fri 2 - Sat 3 June, The ston carte-de-visite format, Fri 9 June - over 10,000 images of the solar June, Wolverhampton Jam House, B’ham Sun 24 Sept eclipse, Sat 27 May - Sun 1 Oct, CALLAGHAN Fri 2 June, NEW WATER LILY POND - CLAUDE MONET Thinktank at Millennium Point, B’ham The Glee Club, B’ham BAD PENNY Fri 2 June, O2 Academy, B’ham JAH WOBBLE'S IN- VADERS OF THE HEART Fri 2 June, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham FREE AT LAST Fri 2 June, Route 44, Birm- ingham YOUNG PILGRIMS, FO- FOULAH & DISTRICTS Fri 2 June, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham BREAK STUFF Fri 2 June, The Asylum, Birmingham ED GEATER, LADY SAN- Claude Monet’s The Water Lily Pond - The Barber Institute, Birmingham ITY AND ANDREW Neon Waltz - Hare & Hounds, Birmingham 52 whatsonlive.co.uk The List NEW Birmingham 1 - 4 June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:36 Page 2

Thursday 1 - Sunday 4 June

NICO YEARWOOD, SMASH, KANE BROWN demos across the Museum sites, Classical Music & THANYIA MOORE Sat 3 June, The Film until Sun 4 June, Ironbridge Gorge Glee Club, Birmingham Museums, Shropshire CBSO: BEETHOVEN’S SEVENTH Featuring CRAIG HILL, JOHN HASTINGS, IVO GRA- INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: IN THE THICK OF IT: CHILDREN IN INDUS- Michael Seal (conductor) & Tasmin Lit- HAM & MANDY KNIGHT Sat 3 June, TRY Take a walk in the well-worn tle (violin). Programme includes works The Comedy Loft, Birmingham shoes of the Black Country’s working by Britten, Walton & Beethoven, Thurs MR CEE, WILL-E, GERRY K & ARIELLE FENCES (12a) Drama. Starring Denzel children and experience the ups and 1 June, Symphony Hall, Birmingham SOUMA Sat 3 June, mac, birmingham Washington and Viola Davis. Artrix, downs of their day-to-day lives, until Bromsgrove, Thurs 1 June Sun 4 June, Black Country Living Mu- BEN VAN DER VELDE Sat 3 June, Artrix, seum, Dudley Bromsgrove LION (PG) Biography/Drama. Starring Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman. Artrix, WHITSUN WEEK AT DRAYTON MANOR IAIN LEE Sun 4 June, The Glee Club, Bromsgrove, Thurs 1 June White-knuckle rides, gentler rides Birmingham and plenty more to enjoy during the IT WAS FIFTY YEARS AGO TODAY! THE COMEDY ALL DAYER Brum Radio com- half-term holiday, until Sun 4 June, BEATLES: SGT PEPPER & BEYOND (12a) edy show featuring Josh Pugh, Stu Drayton Manor Theme Park, Staffs Documentary. Starring Pete Best, Woodings, Gareth Berliner and Hunter Davies. Electric Cinema, PIRATE WEEK Grab your crew and more... Sun 4 June, Cherry Reds, Birmingham, Thurs 1 & Fri 4 June jump aboard for a swashbuckling ad- Birmingham venture, until Sun 4 June, National BELLEVILLE RENDEZVOUS (12) Anima- Sea Life Centre Birmingham tion. Highbury Theatre, Birmingham, BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE CHAMBER Fri 2 June KATE’S STORYTREE Starting with travel- CHOIR Conducted by Paul Spicer & ling Storybike and a treasure chest of featuring Nicholas Morgan on organ, WONDER WOMAN (12a) Action/Adven- props, children and adults are invited Thurs 1 June, Birmingham Conserva- ture. Starring Gal Gadot, Robin Theatre on a Storytime adventure, Fri 2 June, toire Wright. Electric Cinema, Birmingham, The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon AURORA ORCHESTRA Featuring Nicholas DIRTY DANCING The classic story of From Fri 2 June UK GAMES EXPO Featuring all aspects Collon (conductor) & Mary Bevan (so- Baby and Johnny, two fiercely inde- GOLDFINGER (PG) Action/Adventure. of the gaming hobby, Fri 2 - Sun 4 prano). Programme includes works by pendent young spirits from different Starring Sean Connery, Gert Fröbe. June, NEC, Birmingham Richard Ayres & Brahms, Sun 4 June, worlds, who come together to experi- Electric Cinema, Birmingham, Sat 3 Symphony Hall, Birmingham ence the most challenging and tri- June A VERY VIKING VOYAGE FAMILY DAY Jam -packed day full of exciting activities - umphant summer of their lives, until MY DOG TULIP (12) Animation/Drama. storytelling, music, crafts - specially Sat 3 June, New Alexandra Theatre, With the voices of Christopher Plum- designed for the under ‘5’s, Sat 3 Birmingham mer, Lynn Redgrave. Highbury The- June, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, OLIVER! THE MUSICAL The Crescent atre, Birmingham, Sat 3 June Comedy Coventry Theatre Company present Dickens’ PERSEPOLIS (12) Animation/Biogra- classic Victorian tale, set to Lionel COLLECTORMANIA 24 Sat 3 - Sun 4 TOM BINNS, HAL CRUTTENDEN, PETE phy. With the voices of Chiara Mas- Bart’s memorable score, until Sat 3 June, NEC, Birmingham TECKMAN & KEVIN DEWSBURY Thurs 1 troianni, Catherine Deneuve. June, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham June, The George Hotel, Lichfield Highbury Theatre, Birmingham, Sat 3 THE WITCHES New version of Roald June SCOTT CAPURRO, IAN MOORE & COMEDY Dahl’s classic story, until Sat 3 June, CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON BOX OF DELIGHTS PROGRAMME 2 (U) The Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham Thurs 1 June, The Glee Club, B’ham Animation. Nine award-winning short Festivals JULIUS CAESAR Bloody story of con- films from the British Animation KUM-N-AVALOFF COMEDY NIGHT Thurs spiracy and murder, noble intentions Awards, specially selected for 8-12yr WYCHWOOD FESTIVAL Wychwood Fes- 1 June, Stourbridge Town Hall and ignoble actions, until Sat 9 Sep, olds. mac, Birmingham, Sat 3 June tival is an annual music festival held MICKY FLANAGAN Thurs 1 - Sat 3 Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Strat- at Cheltenham racecourse in June, Barclaycard Arena, B’ham ford-upon-Avon Gloucestershire, Line-up includes Or- NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: SCOTT CAPURRO, IAN MOORE, JAMALI VICE VERSA ‘Side-splitting’ romp, lov- chestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, The MADDIX & ANDY ROBINSON Fri 2 June, ingly ripped off from the Roman Released from Thurs 1 June, show- Levellers and Kanga Bongo Man, Fri The Glee Club, Birmingham comedies of Plautus, until Sat 9 Sep, ing at selected cinemas 2 - Sun 4 June, Cheltenham Race- The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon- WONDER WOMAN (tbc) course Avon AFTER THE STORM (PG) ASPARAFEST Line-up includes 3 Daft Monkeys, The Bar-Steward Sons of SCORCH Story of first love told through DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST (12a) the eyes of a gender-curious teen, Val Doonican, Fri 2 - Sun 4 June, DOUGH (15) this is a story which examines how Ashdown Farm, Evesham the human story often gets lost MY LIFE AS A COURGETTE (PG) LICHFIELD BLUES & JAZZ FESTIVAL Re- amidst the headlines, Thurs 1 - Fri 2 turning to Lichfield City Centre for June, Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham 2017 with an explosive line up of new OTHER STORIES Through acutely ob- talent and seasoned performers from served and surreal conversations, near and far. Line-up includes Climax Other Stories sees a beguiling world Events Blues Band, Fri 2 - Sun 4 June, vari- emerge that is both hilarious and hu- ous locations in and around Lichfield mane, Thurs 1 - Sat 3 June, George THE ACOUSTIC FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN CRAIG HILL, JOHN HASTINGS, IVO GRA- TAMWORTH CASTLE DRAGON HUNT Haf- Cadbury Hall (University Of B’ham) 2017 line-up includes Fairport Con- HAM & MANDY KNIGHT Fri 2 June, The grim, the brother of Ruby, Tamworth vention, Wishbone Ash, Nell Bryden, Comedy Loft, Birmingham SALOMÉ Owen Horsley directs Oscar Castle’s resident dragon, has gone Wilde's lyrical, one-act drama, Fri 2 missing - and it’s your job to help find Hoosiers, Nick Harper, Seize The AL MURRAY Fri 2 June, Lichfield Gar- June - Wed 6 Sep, Royal Shake- him, until Fri 2 June, Tamworth Castle Day, Boy On A Dolphin, Ed Tudor- rick Pole, Bar-Steward Sons Of Val Dooni- speare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon JURASSIC KINGDOM All-new outdoor SUSAN MURRAY & TWO COMICS TBC can, Fri 2 - Sun 4 June, Uttoxeter Fri animatronic dinosaur experience, 2 & Sat 2 June, Jongleurs Comedy Racecourse, Staffordshire until Sun 4 June, Birmingham Botani- Club, Birmingham cal Gardens VALEFEST Europe's largest student- SCOTT CAPURRO, IAN MOORE, JAMALI run charity festival which this year SUPERHEROES, SUPERPOWERS & SUPER MADDIX & ANDY ROBINSON Sat 3 June, celebrates its 13th year, Sat 3 Jun, DAYS OUT A week of superhero- The Glee Club, Birmingham The Vale, Birmingham themed activities, workshops and whatsonlive.co.uk 53 The List NEW Birmingham 5 - 11 June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:38 Page 1

thelist Monday 5 - Sunday 11 June BEN NORRIS, CHRIS KENT, ELEANOR Classical TIERNAN & JIM SMALLMAN Fri 9 June, The Glee Club, Birmingham CARL DONNELLY, CAREY MARX, MARK Music SIMMONS & ANDY ASKINS Fri 9 June, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham LUNCHTIME ORGAN PROM WITH THOMAS TROTTER Featuring Crispian Steele- GEORGE ZACH Fri 9 June, Artrix, Perkins (trumpet). Programme in- Bromsgrove cludes works by Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Burt Bacharach & George Gershwin, Mon 5 June, Symphony Hall, Birmingham CBSO: SCHUBERT’S UNFINISHED Featur- ing Nicholas Collon (conductor), El- speth Dutch, Michael Kidd, Jeremy Bushell & Mark Philips (horns). Pro- gramme includes works by Sibelius, Schumann & Schubert, Thurs 8 June, Symphony Hall, Birmingham CBSO CENTRE STAGE: CELLOS STEVE ROYLE & COMIC TBC Fri 9 June, Martha Tilston - Hare & Hounds, Birmingham Programme to include works by De- Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge bussy, Rossini, Sibelius & J Strauss II, STEVE GRIBBIN Fri 9 June, The Core Lounge, Birmingham THE ORIGINAL BURNING Fri 9 June, CBSO Centre, Birmingham Theatre, Solihull MARTHA TILSTON Thurs FLAMES Sat 10 June, Gigs CELEBRATING THREE MASTERS BCMG BEN NORRIS, CHRIS KENT, ELEANOR 8 June, Hare & O2 Academy, B’ham closes its 16/17 season with a concert TIERNAN & JIM SMALLMAN Sat 10 Hounds, Birmingham THE CISSY STONE BAND PHIL DOLEMAN & IAN celebrating three established masters June, The Glee Club, Birmingham EMMERSON Mon 5 CUBA, RUSSEL DEAN & Sat 10 June, Blue of the British contemporary scene - CARL DONNELLY, CAREY MARX, MARK June, Crescent The- TEK NOTICE & REAL Piano Restaurant And Oliver Knussen, Colin Matthews & SIMMONS & ANDY ASKINS Sat 10 atre, Birmingham ZEKS Thurs 8 June, Bar, Birmingham Harrison Birtwistle, Sat 10 June, June, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham THE GOON SAX & QUINN The Flapper, B’ham DIKEMBE Sat 10 June, CBSO Centre, Birmingham JIMMY CARR Sat 10 June, Symphony Mon 5 June, Hare & THE 3 SIXTIES Thurs 8 The Flapper, B’ham THE ORCHESTRA OF CLASSICAL OPERA - Hall, Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham June, The Jam House, BURTON JOYCE Sat 10 MOZART: APOLLO ET HYACINTHUS Fea- turing Ian Page (conductor), Sat 10 JOHN RYAN, GARY MEIKLE, SMUG BILL RYDER JONES Mon Birmingham June, Hare & Hounds, June, Birmingham Town Hall ROBERTS Sat 10 June, Jongleurs 5 June, Hare & MIKE FLETCHER'S PI- Birmingham Comedy Club, Birmingham Hounds, Birmingham CASSO Thurs 8 June, THE MAJOR TOMS Sat THE BOOTLEG BEATLES mac, Birmingham 10 June, Hare & Tues 6 June, Birming- BETH ROWLEY Thurs 8 Hounds, Birmingham ham Town Hall June, The Sunflower BLUES CLUB WITH PAUL Comedy PIXX Tues 6 June, Hare Lounge, Birmingham STEADMAN BAND Sat 10 June, Hare & Hounds, Theatre & Hounds, B’ham MUMBO-JUMBO Fri 9 WV1 COMEDY Tues 6 June, Molineux Birmingham WHY? Tues 6 June, June, Blue Piano Stadium, Wolverhampton HICCUP PROJECT: MAY WE-GO-GO- Restaurant And Bar, BABAJACK Sat 10 June, Hare & Hounds, Birm- DAVE FULTON, CAREY MARX Thurs 8 ROUND Collision of fiercely energetic Birmingham Artrix, Worcester ingham June, The Core Theatre, Solihull dance and comedic theatre, Mon 5 OASISH Fri 9 June, THEA GILMORE Tues 6 THE FATHER TEDS Sat BEN NORRIS, COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH June, mac, Birmingham Eleven, Birmingham June, mac, B’ham 10 June, Irish Centre, ANDY ROBINSON & COMIC TBC Thurs 8 THE CRUCIBLE Charlie Condou (Coro- Birmingham THE WYZE GUYZ Tues 6 RELAPSE WITH BREN- June, The Glee Club, Birmingham nation Street) and Victoria Yeates DAN TOWEY Fri 9 June, June, The Jam House, T REXTASY Sat 10 CAREY MARX, DAVE FULTON, THE RAY- (Call The Midwife) star in a new stag- Birmingham Hare & Hounds, Birm- June, The Core The- MOND AND MR TIMPKIN REVUE & ing of Arthur Miller's classic tale, ingham atre, Solihull Mon 5 - Sat 10 June, New Alexandra ROD STEWART Wed 7 SUSAN MURRAY Thurs 8 June, The Theatre, Birmingham June, Greenhous THE UPBEAT BEATLES Fri SMALL FAKERS Sat 10 Core Theatre, Solihull Meadow, Shrewsbury 9 June, The Core The- June, The Roadhouse, atre, Solihull Birmingham THE FLYIN’ A’S & LEON GORMLEY Wed 7 June, ROCKET Fri 9 - Sat 10 THE DIRTY DC - AC/DC Blue Piano Restaurant June, The Jam House, TRIBUTE Sat 10 June, And Bar, Birmingham Birmingham The Robin, Bilston FROTH Wed 7 June, THE HIGH KINGS Fri 9 EYEDRESS & PHUNDO Hare & Hounds, Birm- June, Irish Centre, ART Sat 10 June, The ingham Birmingham Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham ELTON JOHN Wed 7 NASHVILLE Fri 9 June, June, Genting Arena, Barclaycard Arena, JOE BROUGHTON'S FOLK Birmingham Birmingham ENSEMBLE Sun 11 June, The Spotted KYSHONA ARMSTRONG FRAN THE MAN Fri 9 Dog, Digbeth, B’ham PLUS ROBERT LANE June, Irish Centre, Wed 7 June, Kitchen Birmingham TONY KEARNEY Sun 11 Garden Cafe, B’ham FLEETWOOD BAC Fri 9 June, Irish Centre, Birmingham TERRY REID Wed 7 June, The Roadhouse, June, The Robin, Bil- Birmingham MULTI STORY Sun 11 ston THE DOORS ALIVE Fri 9 June, The Roadhouse, Birmingham LOW ISLAND Wed 7 June, The Robin, Bil- Running Wild - Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton June, The Sunflower ston 54 whatsonlive.co.uk The List NEW Birmingham 5 - 11 June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:38 Page 2

Monday 5 - Sunday 11 June

EVERY BRILLIANT THING A Paines prepared to stoop, Sat 10 June, Old Plough and Pentabus Theatre pro- Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham duction about depression and the SARAH AND DUCK’S BIG TOP BIRTHDAY lengths we go to for those we love, Family-friendly theatre which brings Tues 6 June, mac, Birmingham the CBeebies’ favourites to the stage for the very first time, Sat 10 June, Ar- trix, Bromsgrove SHEBADA CELEBRATES 10 YEARS Brand new comedy show featuring ‘Ja- maica’s favourite roots-play actor’, Keith ‘Shebada’ Ramsey, Sun 11 June, New Alexandra Theatre, Birm- ingham

RUNNING WILD The Children’s Touring Partnership present a staging of Michael Morpurgo’s story about love, Dance loss, loyalty and ‘living in the mo- Stadium ment’, Tues 6 - Sat 10 June, Wolver- PLAN B FOR UTOPIA hampton Grand Theatre Joan Clevillé Dance fuse theatre, The REP, Birmingham, Fri 9 - Sat 17 June SINGIN' IN THE RAIN Amateur staging dance and storytelling to “Birmingham is lucky to have three football clubs, all with a presented by the Trinity Players, Tues explore how we choose to live our huge, loyal following, so The REP is the perfect place for us to 6 - Sat 10 June, Lichfield Garrick lives, Wed 7 June, The Patrick Cen- tre, Birmingham Hippodrome create Stadium,” says the play’s director, Mohamed El Khatib. THE ADDAMS FAMILY Samantha Wom- “Football is full of drama, adrenaline and emotion, both on and ack, Les Dennis and Carrie Hope Fletcher star in a brand new show off the pitch, and in Stadium we talk to the supporters who make based on the cult TV series, Tues 6 - the sport what it is.” Sat 10 June, Birmingham Hippo- Featuring footage presented on two huge screens and plenty of drome Talks insight about the game from local personalities and inspirational THE PAJAMA GAME Bournville Musical characters connected to football, Stadium is part of The REP’s Theatre Company present an ama- EDDIE ‘THE EAGLE’ EDWARDS: TRY HARD Furnace project. The initiative provides local people with the op- teur version of the timeless musical, Eddie talks through his incredible life portunity to develop new talents, discover how theatre is made Tues 6 - Sat 10 June, The Crescent journey - from self-learning ski-jump- and create their own shows. Theatre, Birmingham ing and being shunned by the sport- WAKE UP & DEIRDREALIZE Examination ing establishment, to the extensive of the constructs of fame, self-help surgery to rebuild his face and body and image, Thurs 8 June, Old joint following years of spectacular Stock Theatre, Birmingham crashes on the snow, Tues 6 June, Film Events Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa IDIOT CHILD: WHAT IF THE PLANE FALLS OUT OF THE SKY A tender, playful and AN EVENING WITH ARUNDHATI ROY Liter- INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: INSPIRED FAMILY DAY From starring in unusual story about feelings - a show ary discussion with the winner of the your own TV show, jewellery making MONOCHROME (15) Drama/Thriller. for anyone who’s ever felt absolutely Man Booker Prize-winner (pictured and designing your own building, to Starring Cosmo Jarvis, Jo Wood- dreadful, Fri 9 June, mac, B’ham below), Tues 6 Jun, Birmingham a family portrait experience, embroi- Town Hall cock. Followed by directer Q&A. LOVEHARD: MURDERED BY MURDER dery workshops and historical object Electric Cinema, B’ham, Tues 6 June handling, this Birmingham City Uni- Brand new show which centres on a VICEROY'S HOUSE (12a) Drama. Star- versity event has plenty to keep murder-mystery party at the home of ring Gillian Anderson, Michael Gam- younger visitors entertained, Sat 10 Lord and Lady Titan, Fri 9 June, Old bon. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Tues 6 - Fri June, Birmingham City University Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham 9 June SUMMER MARKET Expect a one day THE ENCHANTED PIG University of Birm- LOVING (12a) Biography/Drama. Star- urban festival with the best of Birm- ingham students present a staging of ring Ruth Negga, Joel Edgerton. Ar- ingham’s food, drink and artists, Sat a brand new love story filled with trix, Bromsgrove, Fri 9 June 10 June, The Bond, Fazeley St, Birm- mud, mischief and magic, Fri 9 - Sat ingham 10 June, The Barber Institute, B’ham WHITNEY: CAN I BE ME? (15) Documen- tary. Starring Whitney Houston. Fol- BIRMINGHAM WILDLIFE FESTIVAL & PA- DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? Performed lowed by a live satellite Q&A with RADE From badgers to beetles and and devised by Birmingham School WORLD WAR II TALK Aashique Iqbal ex- director Nick Broomfield. Electric Cin- hedgehogs to hawks pop along and of Acting, Fri 9 - Sun 11 June, mac, plores the expansion of the Royal In- ema, Birmingham, Sun 11 June see what amazing wildlife exists right Birmingham dian Air Force during the Second outside your front door, Sat 10 June, STADIUM Theatre maker Mohamed El World War, Thurs 8 June, University Victoria Square, Birmingham Khatib explores why football inspires of Wolverhampton NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: passion like nothing else, Fri 9 - Sat MEET THE DIRECTORS Screening of Released from Fri 9 June, showing at 17 June, The REP, Birmingham live-action and animated short films, selected cinemas AGATHA CRUSTY & THE VILLAGE HALL accompanied by discussions with the BERLIN SYNDROME (15) Derek Webb’s comedy, ‘packed full directors, producers and animators, FROM THE LAND OF THE MOON (15) of wit and intrigue’, Fri 9 - Sat 17 Sun 11 June, Arena Theatre, Wolver- June, Hall Green Little Theatre, Sut- hampton MY COUSIN RACHEL (tbc) ton Coldfield DAVID CRYSTAL: WORDS An evening THE MUMMY (tbc) ZACH & VIGGO THUNDERFLOP Series of with the foremost writer, lecturer and THE SHACK (12a) surreal and free-flowing vignettes broadcaster on the English language, WILSON (15) showcasing the depths of stupidity to Sun 11 June, Artrix, Bromsgrove which this award-winning duo are whatsonlive.co.uk 55 The List NEW Birmingham 5 - 11 June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:38 Page 3

thelist Monday 5 - Sunday 11 June CADBURY CHARACTER WEEEKEND Meet Freddo, Caramel Bunny, Creme Egg Festivals & Mr Cadbury’s Parrott at regular in- tervals throughout the day. There’s ENGLISH HAYDN FESTIVAL also the chance to strike a pose and This festival snap a photo with your favourite, Sat focuses on Joseph Haydn's life in Vi- 10 - Sun 11 June, Cadbury World, enna, in particular the years leading Birmingham up to his death in 1809 and his friendship and influence on Beethoven and Schubert. Line up in- cludes: Pavel Serbin, Steven Devine, The Salomon String Quartet, Simon Standage & Christophe Coin, Wed 7 - Sun 11 June, Bridgnorth, South Shropshire GATE TO SOUTHWELL FOLK FESTIVAL From its humble beginnings in 2007 as primarily an English folk music and dance festival, Southwell has evolved into one of the leading and Inspired Family Day most innovative folk events in the Birmingham City University, Sat 10 June country. Line-up includes Jon Boden, Taking place at Birmingham City University’s City Centre Cam- CLASSIC AND VINTAGE COMMERCIAL Kate Rusby, Le Vent du Nord, Thurs 8 pus, Inspired Family Day will welcome families for an action- SHOW Featuring over 400 pre-1997 - Sun 11 June, Southwell, Notting- commercial vehicles, Sat 10 - Sun 11 hamshire packed day of free and fun-filled activities including; embroidery June, British Motor Museum, Gay- DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL British rock festi- workshops, jewellery making, the chance to star in your own TV don, Warwickshire val. Line up includes Aerosmith, Sys- show and much more. PERFORMANCE VAUXHALL SHOW Live tem Of A Down and Biffy Clyro, Fri 9 - Taking place on Saturday 10 June between 10am-3pm, the event action from the country's fastest Sun 11 June, Donington Park Racing Circuit, Derbyshire will officially open Birmingham City University’s Inspired Festi- Vauxhalls, Sun 11 June, Santa Pod val, which is now in its fourth year. Raceway, Northants

56 whatsonlive.co.uk The List NEW Birmingham 5 - 11 June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:38 Page 4

whatsonlive.co.uk 57 The List Birmingham 12 - 18 June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 17:28 Page 1

thelist Monday 12 - Sunday 18 June Birmingham Classical Music ROGER MONKHOUSE, CRAIG MURRAY & COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBIN- SEONG-JIN CHO IN RECITAL Programme SON Thurs 15 June, The Glee Club, includes works by Mozart, Debussy & Birmingham Chopin, Tues 13 June, Birmingham Town Hall CHRISTIAN REILLY, ALEX HYLTON, CHRIS BETTS & CHRIS PURCHASE Fri 16 June, PERFORMANCE PLATFORM FEAT. CHUN- Lichfield Garrick CHIEH YEN (CELLO) Tues 13 June, Recital Hall, Birmingham Conserva- ROGER MONKHOUSE, JOHN LYNN, SALLY- toire ANNE HAYWARD & COMIC TBC Fri 16 June, The Glee Club, Birmingham STEVEN OSBORNE: TIPPETT Featuring the City of Birmingham Symphony Or- PAUL SINHA, ELLIE TAYLOR, MATT REED chestra & Mirga Gražinyté-Tyla (con- & STEVE SHANYASKI Fri 16 June, The ductor). Programme includes works Comedy Loft, Birmingham by Stravinsky, Tippett & Beethoven, ROGER MONKHOUSE, JOHN LYNN, SALLY- Wed 14 June, Symphony Hall, B’ham ANNE HAYWARD & CRAIG MURRAY Sat 17 June, The Glee Club, Birmingham Hunter & The Bear - O2 Institute, Birmingham PAUL SINHA, ELLIE TAYLOR, MATT REED Thurs 15 June, New NIGHT WITH DJ PAUL & STEVE SHANYASKI Sat 17 June, The Gigs Alexandra Theatre, KELLY Fri 16 June, Irish Comedy Loft, Birmingham Birmingham Centre, Birmingham TOM WRIGGLESWORTH, ANDY ASKINS & HEATWAVE, ODYSSEY & HELLS BELLS Fri 16 DAVID WARD Sat 17 June, Jongleurs DARDEN SMITH Mon 12 VOICE OF ROSE ROYCE, June, The Roadhouse, Comedy Club, Birmingham June, Kitchen Garden GWEN DICKEY Thurs 15 Birmingham Cafe, Birmingham SOMMORE, SLIM, KANE BROWN AND June, Wolverhampton HUNTER AND THE BEAR MARLON DAVIS & GINA YASHERE Sat 17 KYLA LA GRANGE Mon Grand Theatre Sat 17 June, O2 Insti- June, Birmingham Town Hall 12 June, The Rainbow BLANK PARODY, UNDER- tute, Birmingham Venues, Digbeth, Birm- KATY BRAND Sat 17 June, mac, Birm- GROUND STORM & FALL DAMAGE PROTOCOL, ingham ingham ANNA VON HAUSSWOLFF Presents a per- OF US Thurs 15 June, KRYPTIC MENTACIDE & EMMA STEVENS Mon 12 formance on the Town Hall’s 1834 AYESHA HAZARIKA Sat 17 June, Artrix, The Flapper, B’ham FREE SUN RISING Sat 17 June, The Robin, Bil- organ in this opening performance of Bromsgrove JESUS JONES Thurs 15 June, The Flapper, ston Supersonic Festival, Fri 16 June, Birm- June, The Jam House, Birmingham ingham Town Hall ROBBIE WILLIAMS Tues Birmingham BLUES CLUB WITH MID- 13 June, Ricoh Arena, FESTIVAL VOICES Featuring Benedict DEP LEPPARD Thurs 15 NIGHT CITY SOUL BAND Coventry Goodall (conductor). Programme in- June, The Robin, Bil- Sat 17 June, Hare & cludes works by Elgar, Gershwin arr. KEITH SLATER'S SINATRA ston Hounds, Birmingham Roderick Williams, Kosma arr. Andrew CELEBRATION Tues 13 SOME GUYS HAVE ALL DEGO (2000 BLACK) Sat Carter, Fri 16 June, The Barber Insti- June, The Core The- THE LUCK - THE ROD 17 June, Hare & tute, atre, Solihull STEWART STORY Fri 16 Hounds, Birmingham 2017 BRANT INTERNATIONAL PIANO COM- KINGS X Tues 13 June, June, Lichfield Garrick SWIM WITH SHARKS Sat PETITION Sat 17 June, The Barber Insti- The Slade Rooms, REVAR THE THIRD SUM- 17 June, Irish Centre, tute of Fine Arts, Birmingham Wolverhampton MER OF LOVE Fri 16 Birmingham BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL CHORAL SOCIETY JONATHON BYRD Tues 13 June, Hare & Hounds, ROXY MAGIC Sat 17 Featuring Loretta Hopkins (soprano), June, Kitchen Garden Birmingham June, The Roadhouse, Edward Harrison (tenor) & Wesley Cafe, Birmingham Biggs (bass), Sat 17 June, Elgar Con- ANNA VON HAUSSWOLFF Birmingham KRAFTWERK Tues 13 cert Hall, The Bramall, Birmingham Fri 16 June, Birming- LOS ENDOS Sat 17 June, Theatre June, Symphony Hall, LONDON CONCERT ORCHESTRA: THE BEST ham Town Hall The Robin, Bilston Birmingham OF BOND Featuring Peter Harrison DUB FX Fri 16 June, O2 OLIVER! Amateur staging presented CHASTITY BROWN & OTIS (conductor) & Louise Dearman & KITE BASE + HOOPLA Institute, Birmingham by Queensbridge Musical Theatre GIBBS Sun 18 June, Oliver Topmsett (guest singers), Sat 17 BLUE Tues 13 June, The Society, Tues 13 - Sat 17 June, The AND FINALLY... PHIL Hare & Hounds, Birm- June, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Sunflower Lounge, Core Theatre, Solihull COLLINS Fri 16 June, ingham BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Birmingham ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS All & Sundry Wolverhampton Grand PAT JORDAN & FINIAN'S Featuring Michael Lloyd (conductor). CANCER BATS AS BAT presents its version of Richard Theatre RAINBOW Sun 18 June, Programme includes works by Wag- SABBATH Wed 14 June, Bean’s English adaptation of Carlo BARRY STEELE AS ROY Irish Centre, B’ham ner & Bruckner, Sun 18 June, Elgar O2 Academy, B’ham Concert Hall, The Bramall, B’ham Goldoni’s Commedia dell’arte-style ORBISON Fri 16 June, TOTALLY TINA Sun 18 CARL SINCLAIR BAND comedy play, Tues 13 - Sat 17 June, New Alexandra The- June, Artrix, Broms- Wed 14 June, The Jam Artrix, Bromsgrove atre, Birmingham grove House, Birmingham THE GRADUATE MOTOWN AND SOUL Catherine McCormack MERCURY Wed 14 June, & Jack Monaghan star this new West New Alexandra The- Comedy Yorkshire Playhouse & Curve produc- atre, Birmingham tion based on the novel by Charles Webb, Tues 13 - Sat 17 June, FOGHORN Wed 14 June, The Patrick CHRIS BOWDEN Wed 14 Malvern Theatre June, Blue Piano Kavanagh, Birmingham A GRAND MUSIC HALL Featuring Gill Restaurant And Bar, BETHANY BLACK & MAUREEN YOUNGER Jordan, Don Maclean & Ian Adams, Birmingham Wed 14 June, Kitchen Garden Cafe, Wed 14 June, Grand Theatre, Wolver- Birmingham THUNDERPUSSY Wed 14 hampton June, The Robin, Bil- TOM GREEN Wed 14 June, O2 Insti- THE SILENCE OF SNOW: THE LIFE OF ston tute, Birmingham PATRICK HAMILTON Kinetic solo show THE ILLEGAL EAGLES Jesus Jones - The Jam House, Birmingham LAURENCE CLARK Wed 14 June, mac, 58 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham 12 - 18 June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 17:28 Page 2

Monday 12- Sunday 18 June

portraying the life of one of the great atre exploring women’s choices, and English writers of the inter-war years. the science behind those choices, Written & performed by Mark Farrelly, when weighing up careers, mother- Thurs 15 June, Old Joint Stock The- hood, and where self-worth is found, atre, Birmingham Fri 16 - Sat 17 June, The Old Joint URSULA MARTINEZ: FREE ADMISSION Stock Theatre, Birmingham Join the Olivier Award-winning per- BETWEEN THE TWO Based on the di- formance provocateur as she returns rector's own family's experiences, to her dirty soap box, Thurs 15 - Sat Rochi Rampal & Daniel Tyler's story 17 June, The REP, Birmingham asks where do we belong when the THE BEGGAR’S OPERA Birmingham maps are redrawn? Sat 17 June, Conservatoire presents a sophisti- Lichfield Garrick cated take on John Gay’s ever-popu- AN EVENING OF BURLESQUE Reviving lar folk opera, Thurs 15 - Sat 17 June, the classic variety artform for the 21st The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham Century, Sat 17 June, New Alexandra THE LITTLE MERMAID JR. The award- Theatre, Birmingham winning Birmingham Youth Theatre SARAH AND DUCK’S BIG TOP BIRTHDAY celebrates its 30th anniversary with a Family friendly theatre which brings musical double-bill, Thurs 15 - Sat 17 the CBeebies’ favourites to the stage June, The Old Rep, Birmingham for the very first time, Sun 18 - Tues SOME GUYS HAVE ALL THE LUCK: THE 20 June, mac, Birmingham ROD STEWART STORY Theatrical pro- duction celebrating the career of one Kevin & Karen Dance - Symphony Hall, Birmingham of rock’s greatest icons, Fri 16 June, Lichfield Garrick greatest creation, the doll Coppelia, podrome Dance to life, Tues 13 - Sat 17 June, Birm- KEVIN AND KAREN DANCE The Strictly A BLACK COUNTRY FAIRYTALE... AY IT! ingham Hippodrome The Fizzogs present a non-traditional duo embark on a sultry, hip-swinging tale of fantasy set in 1910, Fri 16 COPPELIA Birmingham Royal Ballet BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET FIRST journey through the waltz, cha cha, June, The Crescent Theatre, B’ham present the timeless classic, which STEPS A feast of dance, music and foxtrot, tango and salsa, Sun 18 costumes - a perfect introduction to June, Symphony Hall, Birmingham RE:PRODUCTION Intimate piece of the- tells of the eccentric toymaker Dr Coppelius’ attempts to bring his ballet, Fri 16 June, Birmingham Hip-

20 - 22 June, 7.30pm Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Tel: 02476 553055 29 June, 7.30pm Oakengates Theatre, Telford Tel: 01952 382382 15 - 16 July, 7.30pm Mac, Birmingham Tel: 01214 463232 28 - 29 July, 7.30pm Mary Arden’s Farm, Stratford Tel: 01332 258328 Full tour dates at www.oddsocks.co.uk

whatsonlive.co.uk 59 The List Birmingham 12 - 18 June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 17:28 Page 3

MEETING POINT: corner of Colmore Row & Waterloo Street, Victoria Square TOUR TIMES: 10.30am, 12.30pm & 2.30pm

CONTACT: 0121 427 2555 / 07805 115 998 [email protected]

AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE HIRE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

60 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham 12 - 18 June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 17:28 Page 4

Monday 12 - Sunday 18 June

Talks Events Oliver The Core, Solihull, Tues 13 - Sat 17 June LICENSED TO RHYME A monthly event TOWN HALL TOUR Learn more about mixing poetry, prose and, occasion- the Town Hall’s rich heritage and the Bringing to life the Dickens classic about the boy who dared to ask ally, music, Mon 12 June, Artrix, changes it’s seen since opening in for more, Lionel Bart's brilliant show is here presented by Queens- 1834, Tues 13 June, Birmingham Bromsgrove bridge Musical Theatre Society. So if you like your theatrical events Town Hall BRIGHT SMOKE: SPEAKING THE TRUTH to be big on gruesome gruel, raggedy street urchins and magnifi- BARNARDO’S BIG TODDLE 2017 Short, Poetry night with a difference, an ir- cently memorable musical numbers - including Food Glorious Food reverent look at what matters the sponsored walk for toddlers that most... Fri 16 June, Susie’s Cafe Bar, raises money for Barnardo’s vital and You've Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two - then this is the produc- The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon work with the UK’s most vulnerable tion for you. Oh, and on this occasion it would definitely be accept- under-fives, Tues 13 - Wed 14 June, able if you fancied a second helping! Dudley Zoological Gardens BBC GOOD FOOD SHOW Featuring top chefs and food experts, the latest June, Droitwich Spa Stoke Prior Country Club, Broms- culinary trends and topics, and a fan- Film MARTINEAU GARDENS STORYTELLING grove tastic selection of independent and FESTIVAL A family-friendly day of sto- LEAMINGTON PEACE FESTIVAL 2017 The artisan producers selling their wares rytelling, in the grounds of a beautiful Leamington Peace Festival exists to INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: alongside big-name brands, Thurs 15 community garden, presented by the promote an understanding of interna- - Sun 18 June, NEC, Birmingham LOVING (12a) Biography/Drama. Star- Traditional Arts Team, Sat 17 June, tional peace in all its aspects, includ- ring Ruth Negga, Joel Edgerton. Ar- BBC GARDENERS' WORLD LIVE Join the Martineau Gardens, Birmingham ing environmental harmony & living in trix, Bromsgrove, Fri 16 June nation’s favourite gardening experts, GRAND MEDIEVAL JOUST Feel the heat co-operation with others, Sat 17 - including Monty Don and Alan Titch- CABARET (15) Drama/Musical. Starring of the contest, as magnificent knights Sun 18 June, Royal Pump Rooms, marsh, explore the inspiring show Liza Minnelli, Michael York. Electric on horseback clash at the greatest Leamington Spa gardens and visit the impressive floral Cinema, Birmingham, Sun 18 June event of medieval England, Sat 17 - KINETON MUSIC FESTIVAL 2017 Set in marquee. Plus, every ticket includes Sun 18 June, Kenilworth Castle the beautiful countryside of south free entry to the BBC Good Food Warwickshire, and in sight of the his- Show, so you can enjoy the tastes FESTIVAL OF BLACK COUNTRY VEHICLES toric Edgehill, Kineton Music Festival and flavours of summer too, Thurs 15 Wheeling into its 15th year, this an- NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: celebrates music, crafts, food & - Sun 18 June, NEC, Birmingham nual gathering of cars, motorcycles Released from Fri 16 June, showing and commercial vehicles, all built in friendship. Line up includes Abba at selected cinemas the Black Country, features more Chique, Copperhead Road, D-Day BY THE TIME IT GETS DARK (12a) than 100 models, Sun 18 June, Black Dolls & Barney Newman, Sat 17 June, Kineton Sports & Social Club, CHURCHILL (PG) Country Living Museum, Dudley Little Kineton, Warwickshire DESTINATION UNKNOWN (12a) FALCONRY DAY Sun 18 June, , Birmingham TENBURY MUSIC FESTIVAL Featuring GIFTED (12a) Mike Sanchez & His Band, Arcadia RETRO SHOW Take part in the racing NAILS (18) Roots & Sticky Wicket, Sat 17 June, and show & shine whatever type of Tenbury Wells ROCK DOG (U) retro machinery you have, Sun 18 ROUGH NIGHT (tbc) June, Santa Pod Raceway, Northants WHITNEY: CAN I BE ME (15) STRATFORD-UPON-AVON POETRY FESTI- INTERNATIONAL MODEL AIR SHOW VAL 2017 The UK’s longest-running HAMSTEAD (12a) Model aircraft enthusiasts from all poetry festival takes the theme Cross- TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT over the UK and Europe demonstrate ing Borders and features readings, (TBC) their impressive flying skills, Fri 16 - performances and workshops, Sun Sun 18 June, Weston Park, Staffs 18 - Sun 25 June, Stratford Town DROITWICH SPA FOOD AND DRINK FESTI- Centre VAL One of the main events in the town, now in its third year, Sat 17

FOXTON LOCKS FESTIVAL Featuring 100 Festivals craft stalls, a large food village, real ale bar, fun fair and various arena at- tractions alongside live music on two UKULELE FESTIVAL OF GREAT BRITAIN- stages. Line-up includes Edd Keane, Now in its 8th year, this is one of the The Ultraviolet & Johnny Oates Band, ‘biggest and best ukulele festivals’ in Sat 17 - Sun 18 June, Foxton Locks, the world. Line-up includes Abe La- Foxton, Market Harborough grimas Jr, Ooks of Hazard, The Ukulele Uff Trio & The Poor Boys Of WOLVESFEST 2017 Situated in the se- Worcester, Fri 16 - Sun 18 June, cluded grounds of Wolverhampton Cheltenham Town Hall Rugby Club in a 1,000 capacity mar- quee, Wolvesfest showcases the best NOCTURNE LIVE Line up includes: Max in Birmingham & Black Country tal- Richter, Jamie Cullum, Gregory ent, Sat 17 June, Wolverhampton Porter & Corinne Bailey Rae, Fri 16 - Rugby Club Sun 18 June, Blenheim Palace, Ox- fordshire LUDLOW FRINGE FESTIVAL Independent arts, community and culture festival, SONIC ROCK SOLSTICE 15th anniver- Sat 17 June - Sun 2 July, Various ven- sary line-up includes Doctor and the ues, Ludlow, South Shropshire Medics, Heavy Metal Kids and Night Droitwich Spa Food & Drink Festival - Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire of the Hawks, Fri 16 - Sun 18 June,

whatsonlive.co.uk 61 The List Birmingham 19 - 25 June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:41 Page 1

thelist Monday 19 - Sunday 25 June BOYZ & MARTIN MOR Sat 24 June, The Gigs Classical Music Comedy Loft, Birmingham IAN SMITH, ERICH MCELROY & COMIC IDINA MENZEL Mon 19 LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT WITH TBC Sat 24 June, Jongleurs Comedy THOMAS TROTTER June, Symphony Hall, Programme tbc, Mon Club, Birmingham 19 Jun, Birmingham Town Hall Birmingham EDD HEDGES & ALICE MARSHALL Sat CHRISTOPHER PARK PIANO RECITAL Pro- MARK LANEGAN Mon 19 24 June, Artrix, Bromsgrove gramme includes works by Brahms, June, O2 Institute, Chopin, Olga Neuwirth & Stravinsky, ASPERGER’S ARE US LIVE! Sun 25 Birmingham Mon 19 June, Birmingham Town Hall June, The Glee Club, Birmingham LEE JONES QUINTET Tues EX CATHEDRA: SUMMER MUSIC BY CAN- THE LAUGHING SOLE COMEDY FOR KIDS 20 June, The Jam DLELIGHT Featuring Jeffrey Skidmore Sun 25 June, mac, Birmingham House, Birmingham (conductor), Tues 20 June, Birming- JAMES HICKMAN AND ham Cathedral DAN CASSIDY Tues 20 EBLANA STRING TRIO Programme in- June, Kitchen Garden cludes works by Schubert & Britten, Cafe, Birmingham Cara Dillon - Artrix, Bromsgrove Tues 20 June, Birmingham Conserva- Theatre KIEFER SUTHERLAND toire Wed 21 June, O2 Acad- BLUE SILK Fri 23 June, B’ham THE DREAMBOYS The UK's top male emy, Birmingham Blue Piano Restaurant CARA DILLON Sat 24 glamour show, Mon 19 June, Wolver- And Bar, Birmingham LUCAS D & THE GROOVE June, Artrix, Broms- hampton Grand Theatre GHETTO Wed 21 June, YOLANDA BROWN Fri 23 grove THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG Fawlty The Jam House, B’ham June, mac, B’ham THE STONES Sat 24 Towers meets Noises Off in this multi CHRIS BOWDEN Wed 21 IN2MINDS Fri 23 June, June, The Roadhouse, award-winning West End smash hit June, Blue Piano The Roadhouse, B’ham Birmingham comedy, Mon 19 - Sat 24 June, The Restaurant And Bar, WHITE TYGER Fri 23 SEMANTICS, FOX REP, Birmingham Birmingham June, The Robin, Bil- CHAPEL, TELL ME I’M RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET WHITNEY Wed 21 June, ston PRETTY, BALABAN AND Amateur production presented by The Rainbow Venues, TRIPLE BILL OF BLUES THE BALD ILLEAGLES BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE SYM- South Staffordshire College, Tues 20 Digbeth, Birmingham Sat 24 June, Blue Sat 24 June, The Sun- PHONY ORCHESTRA Featuring Michael June, Lichfield Garrick Seal (conductor) & I-Hsuan Peng Piano Restaurant And flower Lounge, Birm- BLUSH Award-winning new play by JOHN VERITY BAND Wed (piano). Programme includes works Bar, Birmingham ingham Charlotte Josephine which tells of re- 21 June, The Robin, by Chloe Knibbs, Mozart & Mahler, Fri MONAGHAN BROTHERS venge porn and its many victims, Bilston COUNTING COINS, 23 June, Birmingham Town Hall Sun 25 June, Irish Cen- Tues 20 June, mac, Birmingham MATRIX CLUB MATRIX POLLEN & FRANTIC AC- tre, Birmingham LONDON CONCERT ORCHESTRA: SPACE Thurs 22 June, The TION Sat 24 June, The SPECTACULAR - STAR WARS & BEYOND Jam House, B’ham Flapper, Birmingham OLLY MURS Sun 25 Featuring Anthony Inglis (conductor), June, Worcestershire THE MANFREDS Thurs 22 BLUES CLUB WITH BON- Fri 23 - Sun 25 June, Symphony Hall, Country Cricket Club June, The Core The- NYLOUISA KEENAHAN Sat Birmingham atre, Solihull 24 June, Hare & SIMPLY DYLAN Sun 25 CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- Hounds, Birmingham June, Kitchen Garden PETER MYLETT Fri 23 CHESTRA: MOZART IDOMENEO Featuring Cafe, Birmingham June, Irish Centre, THE DANIEL WAKEFORD Mirga Gra inyte-Tyla (conductor) & Birmingham EXPERIENCE Sat 24 DARLINGSIDE Sun 25 Ben Johnsonź (Idomeneo), Sat 24 June, Hare & Hounds, Jun, Hare & Hounds, June, Symphony Hall, Birmingham THE LEGENDS OF MO- Birmingham Birmingham BIRMINGHAM BACH CHOIR Featuring TOWN Fri 23 June, The Martin Rawles (organist) & Paul Spicer Core Theatre, Solihull RICK WAKEMAN Sat 24 SHOW ME THE BODY Sun THE LITTLE CREEPERS One woman June, Birmingham 25 Jun, The Sunflower (conductor). Programme includes show exploring the trials & tribula- TRU GROOVE Fri 23 - Sat Town Hall Lounge, Birmingham works by Mouton, Domenique, Phinot, tions of a teenage schizophrenic in 24 June, The Jam Poulenc, Duruflé, Pierre Villette & the 21st century, Tues 20 - Wed 21 House, Birmingham PAT BRESLIN Sat 24 Fauré, Sat 24 June, St Philips Cathe- June, mac, Birmingham June, Irish Centre, dral, Birmingham MY FAIR LADY BMOS Musical Theatre Company present an amateur stag- ing of the much loved musical, based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pyg- malion, Tues 20 - Sat 24 June, New Comedy Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham ALL OR NOTHING: THE MOD MUSICAL TOADALLY FREE COMEDY! Mon 19 Following in the footsteps of other June, The Blue Orange Theatre, ‘60s jukebox musicals about The Birmingham Beatles and The Kinks, All Or Noth- DANE BAPTISTE, STUART MITCHELL, THE ing tells the story of mod favourites RAYMOND & MR TIMPKINS REVUE & the Small Faces, Thurs 22 - Sat 24 COMIC TBC Fri 23 June, The Glee June, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Club, Birmingham THE RAMAYANA The Young Rep 18-25 ROB ROUSE, ALISTAIR WILLIAMS, GEOFF Company present an exciting Indian BOYZ & MARTIN MOR Fri 23 June, The tale of gods, lovers, battles... and Comedy Loft, Birmingham monkeys, Thurs 22 - Sat 24 June, DANE BAPTISTE, STUART MITCHELL, THE The REP, Birmingham RAYMOND & MR TIMPKINS REVUE & PHEDRA Birmingham School of Acting COMIC TBC Sat 24 June, The Glee present Racine’s retelling of one of Club, Birmingham the most famous classical French Idina Menzel - Symphony Hall ROB ROUSE, ALISTAIR WILLIAMS, GEOFF dramas, Thurs 22 - 24 June, The 62 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham 19 - 25 June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:41 Page 2

Monday 19 - Sunday 25 June

Crescent Theatre, Birmingham gender-swapping disguises, exiled APPILY EVER AFTER Frantic Fox The- dukes and wrestling! Wed 21 - Sat 24 atre present a debut show which June, Maple Hayes Hall Gardens, fuses original song & spoken word Lichfield to explore themes of app-addiction, THE TEMPEST Stafford Festival Shake- disillusionment & sexual assault speare present an outdoor staging of within the gay community, Fri 23 The Bard’s final play. Stephen Beck- June, Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham ett (Coronation Street), Richard Gib- TITUS ANDRONICUS Blanche McIntyre son (‘Allo ‘Allo), Zephryn Taitte & (The Two Noble Kinsmen) returns to Grace Carter star, Thurs 22 June - Sat the RSC to direct this bloody and 8 July, Stafford Castle brutal play, where the decay of Rome reaches violent depths, Fri 23 June - Sat 2 Sept, Royal Shakespeare The- atre, Stratford-upon-Avon Dance

BRB: THREE SHORT BALLETS Compris- ing Le Baiser de la fee, Pineapple Poll & Arcadia, Wed 21 - Sat 24 June, Birmingham Hippodrome

UNCLE BEN Comedy play about a sin- Film gle father with a dysfunctional family, doing all he can to keep them to- gether, Fri 23 - Sat 24 June, The Old INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: Dean Edwards at Foodies Festival - Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham Rep, Birmingham LOVING (12a) Biography/Drama. Star- MR B THE GENTLEMAN RHYMER Mr B ring Ruth Negga, Joel Edgerton. Ar- FAMILY FUN WITH THE COURTYARD THE- 67 million years ago, surrounded by continues his ongoing quest to re- trix, Bromsgrove, Mon 19 - Tues 20 ATRE Games, theatre and family-fun living dinosaurs in the wild, Sat 24 connect Hip-Hop with manners and June activities, Sat 24 June, Croft Castle, June - Thurs 24 Aug, NEC, B’ham nr Leominster the Queen’s English to Birmingham, RAPHAEL – LORD OF THE ARTS (12a) Bi- Sat 24 June, The Old Joint Stock ography. Starring Marco Cocci, An- BACKSTAGE TOUR: FAMILY Discover the Theatre, Birmingham gela Curri. Artrix, Bromsgrove, Wed rarely seen backstage areas of the Festivals STUFF Lead clown for Cirque du 21 June theatre, as The REP invites you to be an audience member, set builder, Soleil, Sean Kempton, mixes com- THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (15) prosthetics maker or even an assis- UPTON UPON SEVERN JAZZ FESTIVAL edy, mime, clowning and the odd bit Comedy/Musical. Starring Tim Curry, tant stage manager, Sat 24 June, The Fusing a range of jazz styles with a of dance in this absurdist show about Susan Sarandon. Electric Cinema, REP, Birmingham dash of mainstream/modern and love, Sat 24 June, Lichfield Garrick Birmingham, Fri 23 June ARMED FORCES DAY Featuring live mu- swing, traditional jazz and Dixieland 20TH CENTURY WOMEN (15) sical entertainment, action displays, foundations. Line up includes: Alan Comedy/Drama . Starring Annette children's adventure activities and a Barnes, Hotsy Tptsy, Jive Aces & Dart Bening, Elle Fanning. Artrix, Broms- flypast, Sat 24 June, National Memo- Valley Stompers, Thurs 22 - Sun 25 grove, Fri 23 June rial Arboretum, Burton-on-Trent June, Upton-on-Severn, Worcester- THE STING (PG) Crime/Drama. Starring shire SPARK YOUNG WRITERS GROUP Paul Newman, Robert Redford. Elec- FOODIES FESTIVAL Monthly group for young people in- The UK’s biggest tric Cinema, Birmingham, Sun 25 terested in poems, plays, editing and food festival returns to Birmingham June writing dialogue, Sat 24 June, The with Great British Bake Off winner ON THE WATERFRONT (PG) Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon Candice Brown, Fri 23 - Sun 25 June, Crime/Drama. Starring Marlon Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham KID CARPET’S SUPER MEGA ROCKIN’ SOOTY'S BIRTHDAY BAKE OFF Sooty, Brando, Karl Malden. Highbury The- SHREWSBURY FOOD FESTIVAL ROCK SHOW Theatre show for children Sweep and Soo bake a chocolate Food, atre, Birmingham, Sun 25 June featuring stories, games, songs and cake with a sprinkle of Cadbury drink and craft exhibitors alongside plenty of audience participation, Sat magic, Sat 24 - Sun 25 June, Cad- cookery demonstrations, chef school, 24 June, mac, Birmingham NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE: bury World, Bournville free kids entertainment and music line up all weekend, Sat 24 - Sun 25 NEW YORK! NEW YORK! School of The- Released from Fri 23 June, showing DINOSAURS IN THE WILD Travel back in June, The Quarry Park, Shrewbsury atre Excellence present numbers at selected cinemas time and experience what life was like from Broadway themed shows, Sun 25 June, The Crescent Theatre, THE BOOK OF HENRY (tbc) B’ham THE GRADUATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY (15)

Open air Events

Theatre ANTIQUES ROADSHOW BBC One’s ever-popular Sunday evening pro- AS YOU LIKE IT - SHAKESPEARE IN THE gramme visits the museum, Wed 21 PARK Outdoor staging of Shake- June, Black Country Living Museum, speare’s tale of lovesick shepherds, Dudley

whatsonlive.co.uk 63 The List Birmingham 26 - 30 June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 17:14 Page 1

thelist Monday 26 - Friday 30 June Gigs

TOM CLARKE FROM THE ENEMY Mon 26 June, O2 Institute, B’ham DEAD KENNEDYS Mon 26 June, O2 Academy, Birmingham DREWSIF STALIN’S MUSI- CAL ENDEAVORS & TOSKA Mon 26 June, The Flapper, B’ham CHRISTINA MARTIN Mon 26 June, Kitchen Gar- den Cafe, Birmingham ANNIE KEATING TRIO AND Our Man In Havana - Lichfield Garrick DANIELLE CAWDELL Tues 27 June, Kitchen Gar- Theatre, Birmingham den Cafe, Birmingham Classical Music MADAM BUTTERFLY Welsh National THE ACOUSTIC SESSIONS Opera present a classic, traditional Tues 27 June, The Jam CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY OR- staging of Puccini's powerful tale of House, Birmingham CHESTRA Featuring Peter Donohoe betrayal, Tues 27 - Fri 30 June, Birm- Jack Lukeman - Kitchen Garden Cafe (piano). Programme comprises Schu- ingham Hippodrome DR. DOG Tues 27 June, mann’s Piano Concerto, 31’, Wed 28 LA CAGE AUX FOLLES John Partridge, The Rainbow Venues, June, O2 Institute, dra Theatre, B’ham June, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Digbeth, Birmingham Birmingham Adrian Zmed and Marti Webb star in CABBAGE Fri 30 June, TOBY HUGHES IN CONCERT Programme a new touring production of the JACKSON BROWNE Tues TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY Institute, Birmingham includes works by Hindemith, Derek smash-hit musical, Tues 27 June - 27 June, Symphony CASH - KEEP IT CASH DEFINITELY BRITPOP Fri Bourgeois, Dvorak, Schubert, Sat 1 July, Grand Theatre, Wolver- Hall, Birmingham Thurs 29 June, The 30 June, The Road- Bottesini, Frank Proto & Schumann, hampton CHRIS HOLMES MEAN Robin, Bilston house, Birmingham Fri 30 June, Artrix, Bromsgrove MAN Tues 27 June, The THE WARLOCKS Thurs 29 LIMEHOUSE LIZZY Fri 30 0RCHESTRA OF THE AGE OF ENLIGHTEN- Robin, Bilston June, The Rainbow, June, The Robin, Bil- MENT Featuring William Christie (con- FLOGGING MOLLY Wed Birmingham ston ductor). Programme includes works by Campra, Fischer, Bach & Rameau, 28 June, O2 Institute, POPCAAN Fri 30 June, ANI DIFRANCO Fri 30 Fri 30 June, Symphony Hall, B’ham Birmingham O2 Institute, B’ham June, Birmingham RITCHIE BLACKMORE'S B'SPOKE Fri 30 June, Town Hall RAINBOW Wed 28 June, The Jam House, B’ham NEW DEVICE, SISTER Genting Arena, B’ham THE KILKENNYS Fri 30 SHOTGUN & TYRAN- OSCAR YOUNG & SWEET June, The Core The- NOSAURUS NEBULOUS Fri Comedy TOOTH Wed 28 June, atre, Solihull 30 June, Route 44, Hare & Hounds, B’ham ELBOW Fri 30 June, De- Birmingham RICKY GERVAIS Tues 27 - Wed 28 CHRIS BOWDEN Wed 28 lamere Forest, DISCORDANCE Fri 30 June, Barclaycard Arena, B’ham June, Blue Piano Cheshire June, O2 Academy, ROB ROUSE, PAUL THORNE & COMEDY Restaurant And Bar, THAT'LL BE THE DAY Fri Birmingham CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON OCTOPUS Post-Brexit satire exploring Birmingham 30 June, New Alexan- Thurs 29 June, The Glee Club, how it feels to be treated like a for- SON OF TOWN HALL Wed B’ham eigner in your own land... and the 28 June, Kitchen Gar- power of punk, Wed 28 June, mac, ROB ROUSE, PAUL THORNE, RO CAMP- Birmingham den Cafe, Birmingham BELL & GEORGE ZACH Fri 30 June, The CHANTEL MCGREGOR Glee Club, Birmingham DIE FLEDERMAUS Welsh National Opera present a staging of Johan Wed 28 June, The MICKEY BARTLETT, ALLYSON JUNE Strauss' popular opera, Wed 28 Robin, Bilston SMITH, JOHN LYNN & SIMON BLIGH Fri June, Birmingham Hippodrome THE BOB DYLAN STORY 30 June, The Comedy Loft, B’ham FROM RAGS TO RICHES Birmingham Thurs 29 June, Artrix, PIERRE HOLLINS, SEAN PERCIVAL & JOE Ormiston Academy presents an Bromsgrove ROWNTREE Fri 30 June, Jongleurs evening of singing, dancing and act- Comedy Club, Birmingham TALON - THE BEST OF EA- ing excerpts from stage and screen GLES Thurs 29 June, musicals, Wed 28 - Thurs 29 June, The Core Theatre, Soli- The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham hull BEN & HOLLY’S LITTLE KINGDOM BAFTA DEL CAMINO Thurs 29 Award-winning television animation, June, The Jam House, Theatre live on stage, Wed 28 - Thurs 29 Birmingham June, New Alexandra Theatre, Birm- THREE BLIND MICE Thurs OUR MAN IN HAVANA Based on Gra- ingham ham Greene’s hilarious, subversive 29 June, Katie Fitzger- DI AND VI AND ROSE Amelia Bullmore’s and ever-popular novel, Mon 26 - ald's, Stourbridge play explores friendship’s impact on Wed 28 June, Lichfield Garrick JACK LUKEMAN Thurs 29 life and life’s impact on friendship, June, Kitchen Garden SENSE AND SENSIBILITY Preview per- Wed 28 - Fri 30 June, The Old Joint Cafe, Birmingham formance of the Crescent’s stage ver- Stock Theatre, Birmingham sion of Jane Austen’s romantic novel, PAUPER KINGS Thurs 29 FANNY. A NEW MUSICHALL A new play Ani Difranco - Birmingham Town Hall Tues 27 - Thurs 29 June, Crescent 64 whatsonlive.co.uk The List Birmingham 26 - 30 June.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 17:14 Page 2

Monday 26 - Friday 30 June

by Carolyn Scott Jeffs which tells the funny and tragic story of her friend, Elsie, Thurs 29 - Fri 30 June, Lichfield Talks Garrick THAT’LL BE THE DAY Classic hits from THE ECLECTIC POETRY PAGODA Eight the 1950s through to the ’80s, Fri 30 poets and one MC guide audiences June, New Alexandra Theatre, Birm- through an afternoon of ‘wonderful ingham wordsmithery’. May contain adult lan- guage and themes, Sun 25 June, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton GERMAINE GREER: WOMEN FOR LIFE ON EARTH Candid evening with the agenda-setting author, Thurs 29 Dance June, mac, Birmingham RHYTHM OF THE DANCE DIAL MEDICINE FOR MURDER Join doc- Featuring both traditional and current tors Harry Brünjes and Andrew Johns dance styles, Fri 30 June, Lichfield as they delve into the murky world of Garrick two of history’s most infamous homi- Sense & Sensibility cidal physicians, Fri 30 June, mac, Birmingham The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, Tues 27 - Thurs 29 June; Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens, Sat 1 & Sun 2 July; Blakesley Hall, Yardley, Sat 8 & Sun 9 July; Selly Manor, Bournville, Wed 12 & Thurs 13 July & Harvington Hall, Kidderminster, Sat 15 & Sun 16 July The Crescent’s own theatre company is the ensemble performing this Jessica Swale adaptation of Jane Austen's popular novel. Re- Film gency-era sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood are the main protagonists of the story, busily making their first forays into the INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: excitingly decadent world of 18th century high society, where the JACKIE (15) Biography/Drama. Star- ring Natalie Portman, Peter Sars- giddy excitement of love and the terrible pain of heartbreak await gaard. Stourbridge Town Hall, Mon them... 26 June

Die Fledermaus Birmingham Hippodrome, Wed 28 June Hippodrome favourite Welsh National Opera (WNO) is committed to producing shows which are highly accessible for its audience members, whether they be seasoned opera-goers or people at- tending a performance for the very first time. The life-affirming nonsense of the wonderfully frothy Die Fleder- maus offers the company the perfect opportunity to show the uninitiated just how entertaining a night at the opera can be. John Copley’s production - ‘as opulent as a Viennese chocolate cake’, according to WNO’s promotional material - comes com- plete with posh frocks, marvellous masks and plenty of warm comedy.

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thelist Monday 26 - Friday 30 June 20TH CENTURY WOMEN (15) Comedy/Drama. Starring Annette Events Bening, Elle Fanning. Artrix, Broms- grove, Mon 26 & Wed 28 June DUNSTALL CASTLE OPEN DAY Climb the IN THIS CORNER OF THE WORLD (12a) steep staircase to the top of the tower Animation/Drama. With the voices of to get views across the estate to the Non, Megumi Han. Foreign language, Rotunda and surrounding country- subtitled. Electric Cinema, Birming- side, Wed 28 June, Croome Park, ham, Wed 28 June Worcester BABY DRIVER (15) Crime/Thriller. Star- THE STITCHING, SEWING & HOBBYCRAFT ring Ansel Elgort, Lily James. Electric SHOW Find out more on page 47, Fri Cinema, Birmingham, Fri 30 June 30 June - Sun 2 July, NEC, B’ham SING (U) Animation/Comedy. With the voices of Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon. Artrix, Broms- grove, Fri 30 June Festivals

NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE BARN ON THE FARM FESTIVAL Line up includes Tom Odell, James Vincent, Released from Fri 30 June, showing Lucy Rose & Amber run, Thurs 29 at selected cinemas June - Sun 2 July, Over Farm, A MAN CALLED OVE (tbc) Gloucestershire ALL EYEZ ON ME (tbc) The Stitching, Sewing & Hobbycraft Show - NEC, Birmingham ALONE IN BERLIN (12a) NIBLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL Line-up in- speakers, alongside exceptional DESPICABLE ME 3 (tbc) cludes Discount Columbo, The Last- food, comedy and music. Line up in- ing days, Silent Disco King, Fri 30 cludes Gabby Young, Eckoes, Mad June - Sat 1 July, North Nibley Apple Circus & Lubiana, Fri 30 June - ALSO FESTIVAL Also gives you the Sat 1 July, Park Farm, Compton Ver- chance to get up close and personal ney, Warwickshire with the biggest ideas and brightest

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whatsonlive.co.uk 67 Birmingham Museums F/P.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 11:41 Page 1